Espaillat, Meeks Introduce Resolution Honoring Victims of Flight 587

NEW YORK, N.Y. – Today, Representatives Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) and Gregory W. Meeks (NY-05) introduced a resolution to honor and remember the victims of American Airlines Flight 587 in Rockaway Queens, New York.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the second largest aviation tragedy in U.S. history. American Airlines Flight 587 was bound for Las Américas International Airport in Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, with 260 passengers and crew on board. The flight crashed in Belle Harbor, Queens on November 12, 2001, claiming the lives of 251 passengers and 9 crew members onboard as well as 5 bystanders on the ground.

“Over two hundred lives were lost in merely two-and-a–half minutes on Flight 587, and the tragedy continues to have a lasting impact of the loved ones left behind and our community,” said Rep. Espaillat. “We stand united in solidarity with the families of the 265 victims of that tragic day and are introducing this resolution to ensure the memories of every single victim and their surviving family members are not forgotten. For them, the crash is still a visceral wound and closure remains elusive. No matter how many anniversaries pass us by, we must never forget the magnitude of this loss and the impact it will forever have on the lives of countless families across the country.”

“The tragic American Airlines Flight 587 plane crash took place just two months after the September 11^th terrorist attacks while our community was already grieving. The devastation has been felt every single day since and we will always remember the lives of the 265 victims who lost their lives and this resolution will ensure this. I stand with Congressman Espaillat and the loved ones of the victims of Flight 587 and the Belle Harbor Community,” said Rep. Meeks.

“As I have said in the past, it does not matter how many anniversaries pass, the family and loved ones will always remember the tragic events that transpired on November 12^th, 2001. I thank Congressmember Adriano Espaillat and Congressmember Gregory Meeks for introducing a House Resolution in commemoration of Flight 587’s 20^th anniversary,” said Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez. “Although American Airlines has since made changes to their pilot training program, we must continue to hold all airlines to the highest of safety standards to ensure a tragedy like this never occurs again. My sincere condolences go out to all the families who lost a loved one on Flight 587.”

###