In the cover photography, you see the wreckage of the TWA 800 flight, which were stored in a hangar in Calverton, New York, while the investigators analyzed the cause of the plane explosion, which took place shortly after taking care of John F. Kennedy international airport on July 17, 1996
In the days of collision between a military helicopter and a passenger plane in Washington DC, in late January, and the accident with a Philadelphia medical transport aircraft, as early as February, federal researchers quickly expressed their condolences to the victims’ families and established partnerships with non -profit organizations to provide information and support.
But things were not always like this.
While aviation authorities and transportation teams in transportation focused on the recovery of wreckage and the reconstitution of the causes of accidents, the victims’ families were often left frustrated by lack of information and the slow pace of investigations, which usually take about a year.
About 30 years ago, a passenger plane exploded shortly after having departed from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, leaving authorities to a difficult, complex investigation while families demanded answers.
From the tragedy and tireless efforts of the defense lawyers, a law of the United States Congress that required the government to provide support to the victims’ families after the air disasters.
Voo two 800
A part of the wing of the TWA 800 flight, a few days after the tragedy, floating in the Atlantic Ocean, next to Long Island, New York (Jon Levy/AFP/Getty Images)
In 1996, the Flight TWA 800, which had Paris as a destination, carried 230 people when it exploded, a few minutes after raising a flight, killing all those who were on board. With the help of the US Navy, the US Coast Guard and the hired fishing vessels for this purpose, investigators were able to recover more than 95% of the aircraft. And almost a year later, the remains of all those who lost their lives with the plane’s explosion.
The tragedy, which triggered one of the largest and most expensive investigations in the area of aviation that there is memory, also generated a wave of conspiracy theories, although NTSB, the US agency responsible for investigating accidents in transport, has eventually classified it as an accident, as it found no sabotage evidence.
Following the explosion of the TWA 800 flight in 1996, and an exhausting investigation that lasted four years, the team of Frank Hilldrup, an NTSB official who joined the original investigators team, determined that the probable cause of the explosion was an electric short circuit that detonated vapors in the central wing fuel tank, although they never permanently determined from where the initial spark came.
The relatives of the victims of the TWA 800 flight tragedy will have difficulty obtaining information from the authorities, although some understand the complexity of the accident.
“We watched a huge tremendous destruction,” said Jose Cremades, familiar to one of the victims in 1997, after seeing the wreckage of the aircraft that were eventually gathered. “The plane was really broken into small pieces, and we have to understand the complexity, dimension of this task that the FBI and NTSB are carrying out. I think they are doing a great job. ”
Support for families
The explosion led to the creation of specific legislation, known as the “Aviation Dysaster Family Assistance Act”, which would forever change the way families and loved ones are treated from the victims of air accidents.
“The law requires airlines to develop and maintain plans that responds to the needs of passenger families involved in air accidents,” reads a NTSB document. “The law also requires that, at least, the airline plan include eighteen collapse guarantees in the law.”
According to the same law, NTSB is “responsible for coordinating federal government resources to support local, state and tribal governments, disaster support organizations and air carrier, in order to satisfy families’ needs.”
Peter Goelz, former NTSB director, told CNN in 2000 that the “Aviation Disaster Family Assistance Act” was created when it was “clear” to that body, to Congress, as well as for other entities, “that families deserved to have more information to more targeted care after a disaster of this genre”.
“Therefore, when a disaster happens, family members are the first to receive the information from the government before the press. Are updated regularly. What we are trying to do is not aggravate the tragedy, ”said Goelz.
After the recent collision in Washington DC, the law was put into practice by NTSB. Todd Inman, from this agency, explained the following at the time: “We met with the families. There are more than a hundred family members who are receiving information. It is part of the law that defines support to families. ”
Inman realized that families received information from the coroner, the head of the Firefighters, the president of NTSB and the airline’s families support unit.
American Airlines soon made its family support team, called Care Team. According to the company, it is a group with specific training to support passengers and crew members after an accident.
“So far, American Airlines has mobilized 175 members of Care Team to Washington DC and Wichita, Kansas. All team members were assigned to support the families, ”explained Andrea Koos of American Airlines.
Care Team, which is available 24 hours a day for families, is also responsible for marking travel to family members and helps find services directed to the care of children, the elderly and pets.
The law also takes over NTSB to designate a “independent non -profit organization”, such as the Red Cross, to coordinate “emotional care, psychological care and families support services” from the victims of accidents or their families.
Looking for answers
Democratic Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia, who has been a strong critic of congestion at Reagan National Airport, warning that it was just a matter of time until a fatal collision occurred, said he would believe the NTSB would determine what led to the accident in late January.
“I believe NTSB will go deep into the question. I have a feeling that I already know some things they will find out. I am confident that they will give us answers. At that time, the US Congress and the administration will have to give us solutions, based on the recommendations of this agency, ”CNN Jake Tapper said in the program“ State of the Union ”.
NTSB will work to issue a preliminary report on the cause of the collision, while family members also deal with their losses.
“I’m pure and simply in shock right now,” CNN Andy Beyer told CNN, who lost his daughter and wife in this accident. “It’s too much pain and suffering. To a point where I can’t even approach my daughter’s bedroom door at home. ”
Pete Muntean, Chris Boyette, Jessica Coacci, Taylor Galgano and CNN Devan Cole contributed to this article.
