© 2025 Western New York Public Broadcasting Association

140 Lower Terrace
Buffalo, NY 14202

Mailing Address:
Horizons Plaza P.O. Box 1263
Buffalo, NY 14240-1263

Buffalo Toronto Public Media | Phone 716-845-7000
BTPM NPR Newsroom | Phone: 716-845-7040
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
STAND WITH PUBLIC MEDIA | PROTECTMYPUBLICMEDIA.ORG

Emails point to unqualified Cogan pilot from Flight 3407

New information has surfaced in the case against Colgan Air involving the fatal crash of Continental Connection Flight 3407 in Clarence.

Colgan Air documents were released by attorneys representing family members of the victims.  They are emails from airline supervisors written six months before the deadly crash.  They indicate that pilot Marvin Renslow was not qualified to operate the Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 aircraft. 

A Federal judge allowed the attorneys to release Cologan e-mails.  A lawyer for the families suing Continental and Colgan Air tells the Buffalo News the emails are a  "smoking gun".  

One email stated that Renslow had a problem in “upgrading” for the Q. Despite the concerns, plaintiff attorneys say he was promoted anyway.  An airline spokesman says Renslow had the proper certification to fly the Q400. The plane crash in Clarence Center in February of 2009 killing 50 people.