The lawsuit filed Thursday in federal court alleges that the Continental Connection Dash 8 that crashed Feb. 12 in a Buffalo suburb had inadequate deicing equipment and was flown by an improperly trained crew. The suit names Continental, Pinnacle Airlines, and Colgan Air, along with Bombardier — all of which have declined comment. Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 aircraft operate in frequently cold parts of the world. But attorney (and pilot) Ronald Goldman, acting on behalf of the victim’s family, told Fox news that the aircraft’s deicing system “cannot guarantee the safety of passengers on a commercial flight.” He concludes that the aircraft therefore “should never be flown in these kinds of conditions.” The NTSB has not yet offered its own conclusions and a full investigation by the board could take more than a year. Goldman says his legal team will conduct its own investigation and is seeking wrongful death damages, along with monetary compensation for any pain and suffering endured in the flight’s final moments.
Some 230 Bombardier Q400 aircraft operate the world over, according to a company spokesman, who also pointed out the aircraft is actively used in Norway and Quebec. The crash of Continental Connection Flight 3407 killed all 49 passengers aboard the aircraft and one on the ground at it approached Buffalo at night in near-freezing temperatures with visible moisture in the air and light precipitation reported.
