Fifteen years ago, a tragic incident occurred in Clarence Center when Continental Connection Flight 3407 crashed, resulting in the loss of 50 lives.
On Monday night, 7 News reporter Pheben Kassahun had the opportunity to speak with the family members of the victims who tragically lost their lives in what is considered one of the most devastating events in the history of Western New York.
The families of the victims of 3407 have been carrying a tremendous amount of pain since that dreadful day in Western New York.
Kim Fiduccia opened up about the things she longed for the most from her beloved, 37-year-old Kristin Safran.
Kim Fiduccia shared a heartwarming moment with Kassahun, describing the joy she feels when watching a video of her friend’s contagious laughter. “Her laugh. We have a video and I’ll watch it over and over again. She just laughs. Just a short little laugh,” Kim Fiduccia told Kassahun.
Marilyn Kausner experienced the devastating loss of her daughter, 24-year-old Ellyce Kausner.
Kausner fondly remembers her vibrant personality, her sense of humor, and her intelligence. She was not only smart but also sensitive, showing deep care for her friends who had experienced the loss of loved ones. Kausner was always amazed by her friend’s thoughtfulness and how she made a point to acknowledge their pain. Looking back, Kausner can’t help but feel that she somehow had an intuition about her own fate. Just before the tragic accident, she turned to her boyfriend and asked him to take care of her cats if anything were to happen to her. Little did they know that this conversation would take place just half an hour before she passed away.
Over the past 15 years, a tight-knit community of families has come together as a unified entity.
“We’re a strong and resilient group of individuals, but today is a challenging day for us,” expressed Kausner.
Their resilience is what forever etched change in the history books and American aviation.
“It’s been 15 years since that tragic night, and the lessons we’ve learned have helped us strengthen our flight safety measures. These measures are not just regulations; they are the law of the land, and they continue to be. Speaking from personal experience, I can attest that implementing these measures is no easy task. However, your unwavering determination has made air travel safer than ever before,” expressed Nick Langworthy, the U.S. Representative for the 23rd District.
According to Kausner, the reward of no plane crashes is undeniable. He emphasizes the importance of not giving up and highlights the progress that has been made so far. Kausner questions why anyone would want to stop at this point.
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