Jump to content

Major Plane Crash in Clarence Center (50 dead)


PTS

Recommended Posts

I don't know if anyone else has experienced this, but virtually every time I've flown into Buffalo over the past two years the approach into the airport has felt harrowing. Like we fly very low over houses for what seems like many minutes before landing - that low altitude combined with our typical crazy winds that seem to knock the airplane around, always has me at the edge of my seat. And this is usually in much larger aircraft.

I had such an experience back in 2000/2001 when I took in a late flight from Philadelphia. I was originally coming home from DC but my flight got cancelled because of a blizzard in WNY. They flew us to Philly instead where we were supposed to wait until the morning to get back home. While at the airport, I found out that there was only one flight going into Buffalo that night and it was out of Philadelphia.

 

The flight was on a different airline however. I went to their ticket desk and asked to see if they had any room and how much it would cost. It was a huge Boeing jet that "needed" to get to Buffalo that night -- why I don't know -- and the lady said there were only 20-30 people on it. She said she'd give me a ticket if I really wanted to get back home. I did and boy was that an intersting flight. Each person had about 10 full rows to themselves.

 

Upon arrival, it was beyond a white out when we were approaching. The wind was bad as well. Out of nowhere I see Walden Galleria Mall right outside of my window, and I mean right outside, not under us. I braced myself because I thought that was it right there. I knew we were way too low. As soon as that happened, the pilot got on the comm to tell everyone to hold on as he went full throtle and pulled up real hard. We flew around WNY for about an hour before coming in again for a much easier arrival.

 

As for as your point, living in Clarence Center, we've noticed for years that planes are very low when they land at that point ESPECIALLY in bad, cloudy weather. There are times when it sounds like it's going to crash into us.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 215
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

IANAL, but that doesn't seem accurate to me - otherwise any photographing/recording of police officers could be considered "evidence in an investigation." I think they need a court order regardless.

 

http://carlosmiller.com/2009/01/21/do-poli...te-your-camera/

 

I'd be interested to know the real legal answer on it though.

Not under the new laws regarding terrorism. Also, police have been instructed to confiscate this stuff and deal with the rights violations later. I had a run in with Capitol Police a few years ago despite being a staffer there. Talking to the offices LT, he explained their non-written policy to me. I was polite and the said officer was reassigned, but was not reprimanded.

 

My condolences to all those involved. I ran track against Clarence High, as an Amherst High Grad. My deepest sympathies go out to all those involved.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Alison des Forges, one of the world's foremost authorities on the genocide in Rwanda, and one of my mother's closest friends for decades, was on that plane.

 

My mother had a surprise 80th birthday party a couple years ago. Alison had to circumvent the government in Rwanda to make it out of the country, flew to Buffalo to spend a few hours at the party, and then flew right back to Africa. It was an incredible gesture.

 

Quite a lady and a huge loss.

 

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/sh.../desforges.html

 

This is her obit in the NYT.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/14/nyregion...orges.html?_r=1

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Not sure what to do with this but here it is.

 

 

It's a supposed eyewitness who crept onto the scene to get gruesome footage. His camera was confiscated and he was arrested but he gives a detailed account of what he saw.

I highly doubt that an ABC employee would tell some neighborhood kid to go get some close up footage for them, knowing the liability involved if this kid got hurt. I also wonder how bodies were being pulled out of the plane in the middle of the night when as of mid-morning they said that the scene was still "very hot"?

 

I guess anything is possible, but it seems like creative writing to me.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Alison des Forges, one of the world's foremost authorities on the genocide in Rwanda, and one of my mother's closest friends for decades, was on that plane.

 

My mother had a surprise 80th birthday party a couple years ago. Alison had to circumvent the government in Rwanda to make it out of the country, flew to Buffalo to spend a few hours at the party, and then flew right back to Africa. It was an incredible gesture.

 

Quite a lady and a huge loss.

 

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/sh.../desforges.html

 

Quite a loss, indeed. Sounds like Alison was a wonderful person.

 

The more I read about this, the more it seems that someone here is closely affected by this tragedy. I can't express my sympathy enough for everyone in the area who may be affected by this tragedy in any way.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Alison des Forges, one of the world's foremost authorities on the genocide in Rwanda, and one of my mother's closest friends for decades, was on that plane.

 

My mother had a surprise 80th birthday party a couple years ago. Alison had to circumvent the government in Rwanda to make it out of the country, flew to Buffalo to spend a few hours at the party, and then flew right back to Africa. It was an incredible gesture.

 

Quite a lady and a huge loss.

 

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/sh.../desforges.html

 

This is her obit in the NYT.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/14/nyregion...orges.html?_r=1

 

My condolences to the family.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Assuming that it's true -- his rights were violated. Authorities have no right to confiscate your film, even if you take photos/video while trespassing.

 

Police will try to confiscate your camera even if you are not tresspassing, if they believe you are some how threatening homeland security. My understanding is they cannot take your camera. Now if you want to test the tresspassing part, go on Harlem road in Cheektowaga, and film the Bison and Frontier RR yards from the public overpasses. BUSTED for sure.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

i'll come back here to express my condolences. a family member lost 4 co-workers and friends on that flight, returning from a business trip. RIP

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I highly doubt that an ABC employee would tell some neighborhood kid to go get some close up footage for them, knowing the liability involved if this kid got hurt. I also wonder how bodies were being pulled out of the plane in the middle of the night when as of mid-morning they said that the scene was still "very hot"?

 

I guess anything is possible, but it seems like creative writing to me.

he said he heard the plane crash but did not think anything of it. He waited until 1am to turn on the TV to find out what was happening? Not very believeable.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't know if anyone else has experienced this, but virtually every time I've flown into Buffalo over the past two years the approach into the airport has felt harrowing. Like we fly very low over houses for what seems like many minutes before landing - that low altitude combined with our typical crazy winds that seem to knock the airplane around, always has me at the edge of my seat. And this is usually in much larger aircraft.

I seem to always have exactly the same experience. A few years ago I was flying to Buffalo - our flight actually got rerouted to Pitts b/c of bad weather in Buffalo - after a couple hours on the ground there we take off for Buffalo - and once we get to Buffalo - going through the usual turbulent descent - just at that point where the runway is in sight and you finally feel really safe - the engines go full throttle and we pull up in this loud wailing ascent. WTF!? The pilot gets on the radio after a few minutes - says just as we were about to hit the runway, he detected wind shear and pulled out of the landing.

 

Funny - I never really had any discomfort flying until I had kids. When my kids were under a year old we took a trip to San Jose - on the flight out we are cruising down the runway and at top speed when all of a sudden the pilot hits the brakes and we are screechiing down the runway til we finally come to a stop. WTF!? You could smell the burning brakes. The pilot gets on after a couple minutes - just as we were reaching takeoff velocity a flock of birds flew in front of the plane so he aborted the takeoff.

 

That same year w/ my kids just babies we few out of Buffalo after Xmas headed for LaGuardia. There was a NorEaster - and when we got to NYC they were putting planes in holding patterms while they tried to get the aircraft down in the horrible conditions - so we are circling around in the worst turbulence I have experienced for almost an hour - the longest hour of my life - all I could think was get the damn plane and my babies safely on the ground! After we finally landed all flights were cancelled - we were the last flight in - I was never so happy to be on the ground. Standing in the terminal waiting to talk to the desk about accomodations for the night - the windows of the terminal were all flexing from the ridiculous winds - I actually thought some might blow out while we were standing there.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

IANAL, but that doesn't seem accurate to me - otherwise any photographing/recording of police officers could be considered "evidence in an investigation." I think they need a court order regardless.

 

http://carlosmiller.com/2009/01/21/do-poli...te-your-camera/

 

I'd be interested to know the real legal answer on it though.

 

The real legal answer is that if you are committing a crime, the police have the right to sieze evidence related to that crime. The kid was cited for tresspassing. His camera is evidence.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Alison des Forges, one of the world's foremost authorities on the genocide in Rwanda, and one of my mother's closest friends for decades, was on that plane.

 

My mother had a surprise 80th birthday party a couple years ago. Alison had to circumvent the government in Rwanda to make it out of the country, flew to Buffalo to spend a few hours at the party, and then flew right back to Africa. It was an incredible gesture.

 

Quite a lady and a huge loss.

 

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/sh.../desforges.html

 

This is her obit in the NYT.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/14/nyregion...orges.html?_r=1

 

 

NPR did a lengthy commentary on her today. Most incredible person!

 

So sorry for your loss.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Alison des Forges, one of the world's foremost authorities on the genocide in Rwanda, and one of my mother's closest friends for decades, was on that plane.

 

My mother had a surprise 80th birthday party a couple years ago. Alison had to circumvent the government in Rwanda to make it out of the country, flew to Buffalo to spend a few hours at the party, and then flew right back to Africa. It was an incredible gesture.

 

Quite a lady and a huge loss.

 

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/sh.../desforges.html

 

This is her obit in the NYT.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/14/nyregion...orges.html?_r=1

 

Sorry to hear that dog.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I live in CA and have no connection to the flight or people who lost their lives, but I have experienced sudden loss in my life and understand what a tragedy this is for those it has touched. All my prayers go out to those who lost their life in this terrible tragedy and my heavy heart goes out to the families who lost someone today. My deepest condolonces...

 

Much love from CA...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

×
×
  • Create New...