Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Wednesday night's midair collision between an American Airlines passenger jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter in Washington, D.C. sent shockwaves across the nation, as 67 people are feared to be dead after both aircrafts plunged into the Potomac River.
This incident marks the first major commercial airline crash in the United States in nearly 16 years when Continental Flight 3407, operated by Colgan Air, crashed in Clarence Center on Feb. 19, 2009 during its final approach to Buffalo Niagara International Airport.
The Bombardier DHC-8 propeller plane crashed into a house along Long Street in the late evening hours that night, claiming all 50 souls on board the aircraft, and another inside the house. Miraculously, a mother and daughter duo were able to escape the house and survive the crash.
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Laura Kausner, sister of Elly Kausner who died in the Flight 3407 crash, says she first heard about the crash in Washington, D.C. late Wednesday night.
"I turned the news on, and my immediate thought was, 'I know there hasn't been a commercial airplane crash since 3407.' I was very curious to know what the cause of the crash was," said Kausner on Thursday while visiting the Flight 3407 Memorial in Clarence Center. "It seems like it didn't have to do, necessarily, with untrained pilots, but another series of issues that seems like they were known issues with a very, very busy airspace that's over overcrowded. And it does seem like the signs were there that there was the potential for something like this to happen. Also, that process of those families going through the reality that this was probably preventable."
Kausner says the crash Wednesday night in the nation's capital brought back some darker memories of that night nearly 16 years ago when he sister perished at the age of 24.
"Immediately, you just remember the fear and the unknown when you know that someone that you love has experienced such a scary way of losing their life, and not knowing where they are, not knowing what happened to them right at the end of their life. And just the shock of losing someone in such an unusual way and in such a public way," Kausner recalled with WBEN. "So I'm devastated for those families who are experiencing what we went through 16 years ago."
Jennifer West lost her husband, Ernie, in the crash of Flight 3407 nearly 16 years go in Clarence Center.
It was on Facebook that West had first heard of what had transpired in Washington, D.C. As she was reading up on what happened, that's when she got a call from Robin Tolsma, who had also lost her husband, Darren, on Flight 3407.
"We basically were watching the coverage together pretty much all night, and couldn't sleep," recalled West in an interview with WBEN on Thursday. "Our first thought was how similar it was. Just watching the news coverage back then, it was pretty much a blur."
As West followed along with the news coverage of Wednesday's crash, she couldn't help but notice how the anchors weren't really committing to whether or not there were survivors in the crash.
"That's kind of how it was for me, because Ernie had gotten on the flight, he wasn't supposed to be on 3407, but he got on it earlier to come home. So they couldn't confirm his death until the next day, late afternoon, because he wasn't on the original roster," West said. "It plays with your mind. Even though you know that they're dead, there's still some hope because you didn't get any confirmation. So I just could tell by the way they were doing the newscast that the family members must be all besides themselves, wondering what's going on. And it brought back so many horrible memories."
For the families of Flight 3407, the grieving period was different for each individual family member. West's best advice for the families affected by Wednesday's crash is there is no handbook on how to grieve, so there's no right or wrong way to do so.
"Some people, they throw themselves into something else, like we did with the legislation. And I had a 2-year-old daughter, and so she was my motivation and fuel. I know the next year is going to be hell for them," West said. "Life, as you know it, is over and you begin a new life. And what I can say is as much as you think it's never going to get better, it does get better. And you will smile again, you will laugh again, you will have joy in your life again. But the road is going to be long."
"I think one of the most painful things, and unique things about losing someone in a crash is the waiting for your loved ones remains, what they had with them when they were traveling on the plane. We received those things and word of what was recovered for many, many months following the plane crash. That was a very traumatic experience," Kausner added. "And the wondering, the wondering of what happened to your loved one is very, very traumatizing."
In the days and weeks ahead, both Kausner and West know the Families of Flight 3407 are set to open their arms and offer any kind of support to those who may have lost a loved one in this tragic crash.
"I know this group of people is pretty remarkable and willing to step up, and do what's needed in the wake of a situation like this," Kausner said. "I know every family member is unique and has a different place or role that they might play, but I also know that we will make ourselves available to these families. If they need support, if they need a shoulder, if they just need some guidance on how to process and get through what they're about to endure. And especially if there is change needed, and that process if we need to be involved in continuing to make airline travel safer."
West is hopeful that if anyone needs any sort of support or guidance in these difficult times, they can reach out to the group at any point. She also hopes that those families are able to lean on one another in a way that so many did in the time following the crash of Flight 3407.
"It's going to be horrible, and my heart breaks for them, because I know exactly what they're going to go through and what they're going through," she said.
"It's something that not many people go through, and I've found comfort in my 3407 family. You know they went through the exact same thing that you did, so I hope those families can pull together and lean on each other. It really is an immense help, because you can't just talk to your friend who didn't go through it. There's a lot of things that are going to happen now, and it's good to have the comfort of the family members that are going through the same thing as you are."
The Families of Flight 3407 group shared the following statement on Wednesday's crash in Washington, D.C. on their website:
"We are devastated to learn of the tragic mid-air collision that occurred last night between a military helicopter and American Airlines flight 5342 operated by regional carrier PSA Airline. Our hearts break for the families who are now experiencing the same unimaginable grief and loss that we have suffered since the crash of Flight 3407.
"No words can ease the pain of such a sudden and heartbreaking tragedy. We extend our deepest condolences to the victims, their loved ones, and all those affected. Our thoughts and prayers are with them, as well as the first responders working in the aftermath of this terrible event.
"As we have learned firsthand, it is crucial to allow the NTSB to conduct a thorough investigation to determine the cause of this tragedy. We hope their work will provide answers and help prevent future accidents."