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Heat slows NY crash investigation Investigators enter NY crash site
(about 2 hours later)
Intense heat is preventing a full-scale investigation at the site of a house where an aircraft crashed in New York state on Thursday, killing 50 people. Investigators are moving onto the site of a passenger plane crash in New York state, after raging fires there were put out, say officials.
The National Transportation Safety Board's Steve Chealander said there had been a big fire, fed by a gas leak. They will begin trying to identify the remains of some of the 50 people thought to have died, said state health commissioner Anthony Billittier.
But investigators were permitted to foray into the site, where they retrieved flight recorders it is hoped will yield clues about the crash cause. Continental flight 3407 was five minutes from Buffalo airport when it crashed at 2210 local time (0310 GMT).
Continental Connection flight 3407 crashed at 2210 local time (0310 GMT). The cause of the plane's sudden crash remains a mystery, say investigators.
The death toll is thought to comprise 44 passengers, four crew and one off-duty crew member on board, and one person on the ground. They were prevented from launching a full-scale investigation at the site because of the blaze there, but the two flight recorders have been retrieved and have been sent to Washington for analysis.
The dead are thought to include 44 passengers, four crew and one off-duty crew member on board, and one person on the ground.
But two people - believed to be a woman and child - who were also in the house are thought to have escaped with minor injuries.
Direct hitDirect hit
TV footage showed a house engulfed in flames and the tail of the plane sticking out of the ground. Officials from a number of state and federal agencies appeared at a news conference to confirm that the investigation was finally able to proceed, following hours of delay caused by the intense heat at the site.
Erie County Executive Chris Collins said there were three people in the house that was hit. They say initial findings do not appear to point to any deliberate attack on the plane, but the reason the plane ran into trouble so suddenly remains unknown.
One died and the other two - believed to be a woman and child - managed to escape with apparently minor injuries, he said. The twin-prop Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 aircraft, operated by Colgan Air for Continental Airlines, was flying from Newark airport in New Jersey to Buffalo Niagara International Airport.
Hours later, the BBC's Laura Trevelyan in New York says the flames are still raging and it looks like it will be several hours before the full investigation can begin.
But investigators have located the plane's two "black boxes" - cockpit and flight data recorders - which will be sent immediately to Washington for analysis.
President Barack Obama said he and his wife Michelle were "deeply saddened" by the news.
"Our hearts go out to the families and friends of loved ones," he said, thanking the "brave first responders" who tried to save lives and make the area safe.
9/11 widow among plane crash dead The twin-prop Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 aircraft, operated by Colgan Air for Continental Airlines, was flying from Newark airport in New Jersey to Buffalo Niagara International Airport.
It was snowing at the time, and other pilots had reported ice forming on the wings of their planes.It was snowing at the time, and other pilots had reported ice forming on the wings of their planes.
The pilot did not tell air traffic controllers of any problems during the flight, and a recording of communications appears normal until shortly before the crash. The pilots did not tell air traffic controllers of any problems during the flight, and a recording of communications appears normal until shortly before the crash.
'Dropped off radar' However, a minute after one response, the controller was unable to contact flight 3407 and asked other planes in the area if they could spot it.
However, a minute later, the controller was unable to contact flight 3407 and asked other planes in the area if they could spot it.
It sounded quite loud, and then the sound stopped. Then one or two seconds later, there was a thunderous explosion Eyewitness David Luce 'The plane didn't sound normal'In pictures: Buffalo crash
One airport official said he had been told "the plane simply dropped off the radar screen".One airport official said he had been told "the plane simply dropped off the radar screen".
Campaigner killed
Witnesses spoke of it diving steeply into a fiery explosion. The tail of the plane could be seen sticking out of the ground at the crash site.
9/11 widow among plane crash dead Among those on board was Beverly Eckert, the widow of a victim of the 9/11 attacks who became a campaigner on security issues.
Alison Des Forges - a writer and expert on Rwanda - was also among those killed, said New York Governor David Patterson.
Mr Patterson said it was "hard to make sense" of the tragedy, but paid tribute to the "tremendous human effort and caring" shown by those who had responded to the emergency.
And he said it was "miraculous" that some of the occupants of the house hit had escaped. Another two people had missed the flight.
It sounded quite loud, and then the sound stopped. Then one or two seconds later, there was a thunderous explosion Eyewitness David Luce 'The plane didn't sound normal'In pictures: Buffalo crash President Barack Obama said he and his wife Michelle were "deeply saddened" by the news.
"Our hearts go out to the families and friends of loved ones," he said, thanking the "brave first responders" who tried to save lives and make the area safe.
The National Transportation Safety Board will hold a full news conference on the accident at 1530 local time (2030 GMT).
'Sound stopped'
Eyewitnesses spoke of hearing unusual sounds coming from the plane before it crashed.Eyewitnesses spoke of hearing unusual sounds coming from the plane before it crashed.
Amateur footage of the crash's immediate aftermath
"It sounded quite loud, and then the sound stopped," David Luce, who lives 150 yards (150m) from the crash site, told the Buffalo News."It sounded quite loud, and then the sound stopped," David Luce, who lives 150 yards (150m) from the crash site, told the Buffalo News.
"Then one or two seconds later, there was a thunderous explosion. I thought something hit our house. It shook our whole house.""Then one or two seconds later, there was a thunderous explosion. I thought something hit our house. It shook our whole house."
Neighbours describe the scene of the crash
He described going to the scene of the crash and seeing flames up to 50ft (15m) high.He described going to the scene of the crash and seeing flames up to 50ft (15m) high.
"The house was already flattened. There was no house, just a pile of rubbish and still burning," he said."The house was already flattened. There was no house, just a pile of rubbish and still burning," he said.
Dave Bissonette, emergency control director in Clarence, said it was "remarkable" that only one house was hit, with neighbouring houses relatively unscathed.Dave Bissonette, emergency control director in Clarence, said it was "remarkable" that only one house was hit, with neighbouring houses relatively unscathed.
"As devastating as that was, it could have easily wiped out that entire neighbourhood," he said. BOMBARDIER DASH 8 AIRCRAFT The Canadian-made Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 was delivered new last yearQ400 is newest member of the Dash 8 familyTwin-engine turboprop, mainly for short-haul flightsFirst flown in 1998, entered commercial service in 2000 "As devastating as that was, it could have easily wiped out that entire neighbourhood," he said.
9/11 widow
Relatives of the victims have been offered counselling and support as they wait for news.Relatives of the victims have been offered counselling and support as they wait for news.
One of those on board the plane was Beverly Eckert, widow of Sean Rooney who was killed in the 9/11 attacks on New York and who had become a leading campaigner on behalf of the "9/11 families".
BOMBARDIER DASH 8 AIRCRAFT The Canadian-made Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 was delivered new last yearQ400 is newest member of the Dash 8 familyTwin-engine turboprop, mainly for short-haul flightsFirst flown in 1998, entered commercial service in 2000
Ms Eckert had been travelling home to mark what would have been her husband's 58th birthday.
"We know she was on that plane," her sister, Sue Bourque, told the Buffalo News, "and now she's with him."
President Obama paid tribute to Ms Eckert, calling her "an inspiration to me and so many others".
Chris Kausner, whose sister is believed to have been on the plane, was forced to break the news to his mother, holidaying in Florida.Chris Kausner, whose sister is believed to have been on the plane, was forced to break the news to his mother, holidaying in Florida.
"I heard my mother make a noise on the phone that I never heard her make before," he told reporters."I heard my mother make a noise on the phone that I never heard her make before," he told reporters.
Meanwhile President Obama paid tribute to 9/11 widow Ms Eckert, calling her "an inspiration to me and so many others".
Continental Airlines expressed profound sadness over the crash and said it was working closely with Colgan Air to "provide as much support as possible for all concerned".Continental Airlines expressed profound sadness over the crash and said it was working closely with Colgan Air to "provide as much support as possible for all concerned".
Did you witness the plane crash? Are you in the area?Did you witness the plane crash? Are you in the area?
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