Scott Maurer to Appear on CBS Thursday Night
Buffalo, New York- February 10, 2010 – As previously announced, the “Families of Continental Flight 3407” will conduct a “Walk to Complete the Journey” this Friday on the one year anniversary of the horrific plane crash outside of Buffalo. After traveling the final 10.5 miles from the crash site at 6038 Long Street in Clarence Center to the Buffalo-Niagara International Airport, a press conference is scheduled at 2:30 p.m. At this press conference, the group hopes to call attention to the fact that critical safety legislation designed to address the issues that caused this tragedy continues to languish in the Senate, currently awaiting action by the Senate Finance Committee under the direction of Senator Max Baucus of Montana.
Over five hundred family members and friends are signed up to participate in the walk, scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. and conclude with a press conference at the airport at approximately 2:30 p.m. “It is going to be a sad day of reflection as we think back to what happened one year ago,” stated Karen Eckert of Williamsville, New York, who lost her sister and noted 9/11 widow Beverly Eckert. “The support of the entire Western New York community truly has been amazing; sadly though they are not the ones we need to push into action. We just have not been able to break through the health care logjam in the Senate, and it’s hard not to be frustrated when you think of the incredible pain this accident has caused, as well as the serious flaws in the regional airline industry that it has exposed.”
Additionally, the group announced that Scott Maurer, of Moore, South Carolina, who lost his thirty year old daughter Lorin, will be appearing on the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, on Thursday to publicize the group’s efforts. Maurer will be joined by Jeff Skiles, the co-pilot of US Airways Flight 1549, better known as the ‘Miracle on the Hudson’.
“Jeff has been a phenomenal supporter of our efforts,” stated Maurer. “He exemplifies the importance of experience in the cockpit, and has the results to prove it. Hopefully, the Senate leadership will take note of his message and act decisively to raise the unacceptably low standards for pilots to be hired commercially today.”
This week’s events are all part of a coordinated effort by the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ to push the Senate to take action on the FAA Reauthorization Bill. The bill, which contains many important aviation safety reforms, has been grounded by the Finance Committee since last July.