Hochul, Higgins, Slaughter & Reed Call on Pinnacle to Honor Obligations to 3407 Families

Press Release

Bankruptcy Does Not Waive Responsibility to Families

After the announcement that Pinnacle Airlines, owner of Colgan Air, will file for bankruptcy, Representatives Kathy Hochul (NY-26), Brian Higgins (NY-27), Louise Slaughter (NY-28), and Tom Reed (NY-29) today sent a letter to the company urging it to honor its obligations to the families of the victims of Continental Flight 3407, which crashed in Clarence Center in February 2009.

"Last year, after personally meeting with Pinnacle executives, I heard firsthand about the company's efforts to improve flight safety standards, as well as honor the victims' of Continental Flight 3407," said Congresswoman Hochul. "Today, we are calling on Pinnacle to fulfill their commitments to the families, no matter what happens with the airline."

"In order to make real strides toward improving flight safety, the airlines must be a responsible partner," said Congressman Higgins. "As Pinnacle undergoes its reorganization, we ask that they remain committed to seeing through the significant reforms achieved thanks to the hard work and dedication of the Flight 3407 Families."

"There is no obligation more important than the one which Pinnacle owes the families of the victims of Continental Connection Flight 3407," said Congresswoman Slaughter. "I've been so impressed by these dozens of family members who have worked through their grief to make the skies safer for us all."

"The obligations to the Flight 3407 families must be a top priority in this proceeding," added Congressman Tom Reed. "After all that has happened and the efforts these families have made to prevent another tragedy like this, those obligations must be honored."

A copy of the letter by the Western New York Representatives to Pinnacle can be found here.

Since the crash, over three years ago, the Western New York delegation has strongly advocated for improving flight safety standards and has been a champion for the victims' families. Last October, Members of the delegation met with Pinnacle executives to discuss repeated flight safety errors that endangered the lives of the flying public. John Spanjers, Pinnacle's Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, was one of the Pinnacle executives present during the meeting.

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