Breaking: Plane crash in Western New York. UPDATE: 49 dead
A plane believed to be a Continental aircraft has crashed in Clarence Center, New York.
Details are sketchy at this stage, but it is believed that plane was carrying around 50-60 people.
Reports say emergency services across Western New York are rushing to the scene.
The aircraft is believed to have come down in a residential area. No reports on the ground yet of casualties.
Here’s the map of where the aircraft went down, as you can see from the satellite view, its sparse residential, with some open areas.
Update: 49 people are reported to have died when the now confirmed Continental Airlines flight crashed into a house in Clarence Center. The dead included 44 passengers, four crew members and a person on the ground.
Update 2: eyewitness reports say the plane was a turbo-prop smaller commuter plane. The plane was believed to be heading to Buffalo.
Update 3: photograph via Buffalo News who also has more details.
Update 4: the crashed plane is believed to be Continental Airlines flight #3407, operated by Colgan Air. According to online details, the flight took off from Newark headed to Buffalo.
Update 5: witness video
Beverly Eckert, a 9/11 widow, is now believed to have been on the plane. Details here.
The same type of plane, a Bombardier Q400, has been cited in numerous incidents in the past and was consequently removed from one airline’s fleet. Details here.
