Local News
TOP 10: No. 8: Crash of Flight 3407 has local impact
The lives of 50 families changed forever in February as a result of a plane crash, the effects of which were felt all over Western New York.
On Feb. 12, Continental Connection Flight 3407 crashed in Clarence Center, slamming into a house and erupting into flames.
The crash killed one man in the house and all 49 people on board the plane, including David Borner, a Pendleton resident and father of two.
Family and friends described Borner as a devoted soccer dad, whose daughter, Nicole, graduated from Starpoint High School in June. Nicole earned a scholarship to play Division I soccer at Binghamton University, while son Michael is a current soccer player at Starpoint.
In David Borner’s memory, a lasting memorial was constructed along Starpoint’s varsity soccer field. The “Borner’s Benches” are two brick structures with gutters, shingle roofs, siding and benches for Starpoint and visiting soccer players.
Families met in Washington, D.C., for a Senate hearing on airline safety earlier this month. The Federal Aviation Administration said it won’t increase the number of training hours needed for pilots, but would encourage more targeted training, instead. The National Transportation Safety Board’s report on the crash is expected to be released in February.
The families also met in Clarence Center to start discussion on a memorial for the 50 victims of the crash. Relatives want to keep alive the memories of their lost loved ones, as did Nicole Borner at Starpoint High School’s graduation ceremony in June.
Borner, the class’ valedictorian, gave a speech using a sign with the numbers 3,4,0 and 7 written upside down. Certain parts of the number were highlighted, spelling out the word “love.” Borner referenced lyrics from “Three Wooden Crosses,” a song recorded by Randy Travis. Borner and her father used to sing it together in the car on occasion.
“It isn’t what you take when you leave this world behind you, it’s what you leave behind you when you go,” Borner said in June. “My father left a family and the meaning of love in my heart.”
Contact reporter Joe Olenick at 439-9222, ext. 6241.
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