Buffalo, New York- July 7, 2009 – As members of the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407′ continue to push for aviation safety reform in the Senate, the group has been encouraged by the efforts by the leadership of the House of Representatives’ Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, as well as its Aviation Subcommittee. (more…)
Buffalo, New York- June 30, 2009 – In light of Continental Airlines’ concerted effort to distance itself from the tragedy of Continental Flight 3407 operated by Colgan Air, the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407′ gave Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) high praise for his recently introduced legislation that will increase passengers’ awareness of the actual carrier operating each and every flight when they are purchasing plane tickets. (more…)
Buffalo, New York- June 22, 2009 – The ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ announced their support for the ‘One Level of Safety’ Bill, introduced by Senators Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA). The bill seeks to address many of the deficiencies that have been brought to light by the investigation into the crash of Continental Flight 3407 on February 12th. (more…)
Buffalo, New York- June 22, 2009 – The ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ strongly endorsed Senator Chuck Schumer’s (D-NY) recently proposed legislation mandating a non-industry voice for safety on the Federal Aviation Administration’s Management Advisory Council (MAC), the FAA Administrator’s inner circle of advisors. (more…)
June 17, 2009 – On behalf of the Families of Flight 3407, we would like to thank Chairman Dorgan, Minority Leader Senator DeMint, and all other members of the Senate Subcommittee on Aviation for the opportunity to speak to you today. My name is Scott Maurer. My daughter, Lorin Maurer, was on board Continental Flight 3407.
Tomorrow night at 10:17 p.m. will be 18 weeks since our lives were changed forever. The minutes, hours, days, and weeks that have past since this tragedy have been an unbelievable nightmare for all of us. It is a pain that you will never know, and one that we hope no one else must face. We believe very strongly that the crash did not have to happen and was preventable. As such, we are here today, and we will be here tomorrow and beyond, to ask for help and to push for change so that other families can be spared this pain. (more…)
Buffalo, New York- June 15, 2009 – Scott Maurer of Moore, South Carolina, who lost his thirty year old daughter Lorin on Continental Flight 3407 , has been invited to testify in front of the Senate Aviation Subcommittee at its hearing this week. The hearing, to be held at 10:00 am on Wednesday, June 17th in Room 253 of the Russell Senate Office Building, will focus on ‘Aviation Safety: The Role and Responsibility of Commercial Air Carriers and Employees.’ (more…)
Buffalo, New York- June 15, 2009- In the wake of the Federal Aviation Administration’s ‘Call to Action’ safety summit held today, the “Families of Continental Flight 3407” sent a letter to FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt urging him not to be satisfied with voluntary measures and to push for more stringent and mandatory regulation of the industry. (more…)
une 11, 2009 – Mr. Chairman and subcommittee members, thank you for the opportunity to speak before your subcommittee today. My name is John Michael Loftus. I am here today to testify on behalf of the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’, both as a father, and as a former pilot with Continental Airlines for over 20 years.
My daughter, Maddy Loftus was onboard Continental Flight 3407. On February 12, 2009, Maddy was a beautiful twenty four year old woman just starting down the pathway of her adult life. She had finished her education and returned to her home in New Jersey where she had landed an excellent job with an outstanding advertising agency. She was surrounded by family and friends who loved her. As she boarded flight 3407 she was so excited about going back to Buffalo State College for an alumni hockey game – so excited to see old teammates and friends and pursue one of the loves of her life: hockey. In other words, she was poised to begin “the rest of her life.” But, that night, onboard Flight 3407, all her hopes and dreams and plans for the future – career, love, marriage, motherhood – were brutally extinguished. And I am left sitting here today asking why? I don’t think we can ever make sense of the tragic loss of Maddy and the other forty nine human beings who died that night. But we can, we must, do everything in our power to ensure that it never happens again. (more…)
Buffalo, New York- June 8, 2009- Mike Loftus, who lost his twenty four year old daughter Madeline on Continental Flight 3407 and is a former commercial airline pilot, has been invited to testify in front of the House Aviation Subcommittee at its hearing this week. (more…)
Buffalo, New York- May 18, 2009- Following a week of disturbing revelations at the National Transportation Safety Board’s public hearings concerning the crash of Continental Flight 3407 operated by Colgan Air on February 12th, the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ turn their attention to the Senate’s Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. (more…)