Press Releases

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…)

Buffalo- April 29, 2009- Family members who lost loved ones in the Continental Connection Flight 3407 crash in Clarence, New York announce today that they will be attending the National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB) public hearing in Washington DC, May 12 to May 14. (more…)

Buffalo, New York- May 29, 2009- On the heels of the House of Representatives’ amendment to the FAA Reauthorization Bill calling for a comprehensive review of airline carriers’ training policies and procedures, the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ applauded the Senate Aviation subcommittee’s announcement of two hearings on Aviation Safety to be held in June. (more…)