February 12, 2025, Buffalo NY – Today marks 16 years since Continental Flight 3407 tragically crashed in Clarence Center, New York, taking the lives of 50 on board and one man on the ground. The pain of their loss is still felt every day – mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, husbands and wives, sisters and brothers, friends and colleagues – all taken too soon.
In the years since this preventable tragedy, we have fought relentlessly to ensure that no other families suffer the same loss. Our advocacy led to the passage of landmark aviation safety legislation, which strengthened pilot training and experience requirements, established critical fatigue management rules, and enhanced safety oversight. As a result, these regulations have been instrumental in preventing further fatal crashes in U.S. commercial aviation for over fifteen years.
The recent tragic mid-air collision near Washington, D.C. is a stark reminder that the work is not done. We grieve with those families and understand all too well the difficult road that lies ahead.
Aviation safety requires constant vigilance. We will honor the legacy of our loved ones by continuing to demand accountability and compliance with the standards we fought so hard to achieve.
As we gather today to remember those we lost, we urge lawmakers, government regulators, and industry leaders to uphold their commitment to safety. No one else should experience the pain we live with every day. There are already too many of us.