Continental exec rebutted by lawmakers

In the audience for Wednesday's hearings were several members of the Families of Continental Flight 3407, who have waged a yearlong battle for pending legislation that boosts pilot-training requirements and includes several other safety measures.

"For the families, it was distressing to hear" Smisek trying to deflect responsibility, said Karen Eckert, who lost a sister, Sept. 11 activist Beverly Eckert, in the crash. "But it was not surprising."

Eckert said the families were happy to see the lawmakers pressing the Continental executive about the company's relationship with Colgan.

"I'm sorry, but it's their responsibility to know who they're contracting with," she said.

e-mail: jzremski@buffnews.com