Briefly, Jan 25
Posted by Jillian Gustafson January 25th, 2010
Ethiopian Air Flight 409
Sadly, last evening, Ethiopian Airlines Flight 409 caught fire (from early reports) and crashed shortly after takeoff from Beirut, Lebanon. Airsafe.com has a good summary, as of Monday afternoon. It appears as though none of the passengers or crew survived. The investigation will be ongoing.
On the Hill This Week
As was the case last week, congressional committees continue to follow up on their understanding of the NW253 incident on Christmas Day. But also, the confirmation process of a nominee to the FAA and the reauthorization process of the NTSB will be moving forward. This week (via GovExec), they are:
- Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee – Hearing [ 09:30 am, 01/26/2010 ]
Full committee hearing on “Intelligence Reform: The Lessons and Implications of the Christmas Day Attack,” focusing on the attempted bombing incident on Flight 253 to Detroit on December 25. (Part Two) - House Homeland Security Committee – Hearing [ 10:00 am, 01/27/2010 ]
Full committee hearing on “Flight 253: Learning Lessons from an Averted Tragedy.” - Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee – Hearing [ 02:30 pm, 01/26/2010 ]
Full committee hearing on the nominations of Michael Huerta, to be deputy administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration; David Matsuda, to be administrator of the Maritime Administration; and Timothy McGee, to be an assistant secretary in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, with responsibility for environmental observation and prediction. - House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee – Hearing [ 10:00 am, 01/27/2010 ]
Aviation Subcommittee hearing on “Reauthorization of the National Transportation Safety Board.”
We remember the first, avoidable crash that started NADA: UA 585. It’s been 19 years and look at the good that has been done, starting with the retrofit of the 737 – a hard-won fight! Thank you NADA!!!
I visited the Memorial Park at Widefield, CO. Sunday and decorated trees for our loved ones. We are used to missing them, but we still do.