Flight 3407 Families Warn FAA Nominee Not to Weaken Pilot Training Rules
Families of Flight 3407 victims returned to Washington on Wednesday, June 25, vowing to hold U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy accountable if pilot training standards are weakened under a new FAA administrator.
The group, who lost loved ones in the 2009 Clarence Center crash that killed 49 passengers and crew, one unborn child, and a man on the ground, is determined to protect the safety reforms they fought for after the tragedy. A central focus of their advocacy is the 1,500-hour pilot training rule, enacted after investigators blamed the crash on pilot error.
Flight 3407 refers to Colgan Air Flight 3407, a tragic regional airline crash that occurred on February 12, 2009, near Buffalo, New York. The aircraft, a Bombardier Dash 8 Q400, was operating as a Continental Connection flight from Newark to Buffalo when it stalled and crashed into a house in Clarence Center, killing all 49 people on board and one person on the ground.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined the crash was caused by pilot error, specifically the captain’s improper response to a low-speed warning. Contributing factors included crew fatigue, inadequate training, and violations of cockpit communication protocols.
During their meeting with Secretary Duffy, the families expressed deep concern over the nomination of former Republic Airways CEO Bryan Bedford as the next head of the Federal Aviation Administration. Bedford has previously questioned the necessity of the 1,500-hour rule, raising alarm among safety advocates.
At his Senate confirmation hearing, Bedford refused to explicitly commit to upholding the rule, stating, “I can’t commit to things that I don’t know, but I can commit to you that we will not have anything that would reduce safety. Full stop.” His response left lawmakers and families unconvinced.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and others saw Bedford’s stance as a potential opening to weaken current standards. Despite this, Bedford’s nomination passed committee and now moves to a full Senate vote.
Following their meeting, Karen Eckert—whose sister Beverly perished in the crash—said, “Secretary Duffy assured us of his full commitment to safety and pledged to hold Mr. Bedford accountable. He also stated there are no current plans to change any training requirements.”
Still, the families emphasized that if Duffy fails to uphold that commitment, they will hold him accountable.
Among those present were Jennifer West and her daughter Summer, whose husband and father, Ernie, died in the crash. Summer, now a young woman, read aloud a letter she wrote to Secretary Duffy, sharing how growing up without her father left her feeling isolated and uncertain.
“My dad had a big personality,” she wrote. “I think he would have helped me believe in myself more.”
Jennifer West noted that Secretary Duffy appeared visibly moved by the letter. After the meeting, he took Summer aside and told her, “You have no problems with confidence. Please don’t think that you do, because you did amazing.”
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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, wgrz.com