Washington - U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) today released the following statement after speaking with Transportation Secretary Ray Lahood about Continental Flight 3407:
"First and foremost our thoughts and prayers are with those who lost loved ones in this horrific accident. The grief they must be feeling today is unimaginable, and we will be there for them if they need us.
"I spoke with Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood a short time ago, and I appreciate the update he gave me as well as his team's quick response to the scene. He confirmed that the two 'black boxes' had been successfully recovered from the site, as the National Transportation Safety Board has announced. They are en route to Washington, which is tremendously important to gain a full understanding of exactly what happened. Secretary LaHood believes at this point that the aircraft was a year old, and that at 5,000 feet it made a 180 degree turn before crashing. Additional details are still incoming.
"Whatever the cause and whatever the circumstances, this was a tragedy that hit particularly close to home for us here in New Jersey. My office stands ready to help the families of anyone aboard Flight 3407 if they require assistance related to the federal response to this tragedy."
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