I know this is a short diary and not politic related, but we all need to say a prayer about the Continenal commuter plane that crashed into a house outside of Buffalo, NY. Reports indicate that 48 people were on the plane and two people on the ground are injured.
link
Out of respect for the departed, I will not post pictures of the inferno. It's horrible and tragic.
Let us pray for those that died, those that are injured, and their loved ones.
Update: Thanks Ellicatt
At approximately 10:20 pm, Continental #3407, from Newark to Buffalo, crashed into a home in Clarence Center, NY.
(12:15am) It is confirmed that 48 people were on the plane. So far, it is confirmed that two with minor injuries not on the plane were transported to Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital.
Local weatherman says when the plane crashed, there was probably a rain/snow combo in the area; wind speeds were probably 10 to 15 mph. They were approximately 5 miles from the Buffalo International Airport.
(11:00pm) The Erie County Executive tells the news that it was a Continental plane with approximately 50 people. Some people were transported to ECMC Hospital. He had no details on whether the plane was taking off or landing.
The plane crashed and leveled a home in the area of Clarence Center; looking at live pictures on the local Buffalo news right now, there is still a massive amount of smoke coming from the scene. Local people who have called in to the news cast are claiming that they heard engine trouble before it hit; one believes that it may have exploded before it even hit the ground. After the crash, all of the callers are claiming that there were a number of explosions in at least the following 10 minutes.
The flight was at least two hours late in taking off from Newark.
Update #2: from msnbc:
48 killed on the plane and 1 on the ground
Update #3: Continental Express Flight #3407
Any family members call: 1-800-621-3263
Update #4: Next briefing will be at 4am EST. No known cause of crash, only assumptions.
Update #5: Link to cockpit/control
Female voice in cockpit. Communication with flight 3407 around 4:30, 8:30, 12:15, 14:00, 15:10, 16:00 mark.
At 17:00 mark, it seems to me thats where they new something was wrong. COntrol asked other planes if they saw something.
Around 17:35, they asked another plane to look at their right about miles for Dash 8.
At 12:10, control starts talking about contacting local authorities.
24:00, control mentions a dash 8 that "didnt make the airport".
28:00, another plane asks "did you find colgan?" Control response: "unofrtunately they said he went down right over the marker"
Update #6: Media now reporting audio