DIA Jet Crash Captain Gets Visit From Continental CEO
Cause Of Mishap Not Obvious
POSTED: 10:15 am MST December 24, 2008
UPDATED: 1:22 pm MST December 24, 2008
DENVER -- The Continental Airlines captain who was injured when his jetliner careened off a Denver runway and burst into flames got a pre-Christmas hospital visit from his company's top boss. The captain, whose name and condition haven't been released, was among 38 people hurt in the accident at Denver International Airport on Saturday. The captain and three others remained hospitalized Wednesday. The National Transportation Safety Board hasn't said what went wrong. Investigators said they had not yet interviewed the captain, but they say they have good information from the plane's voice and data recorders.
Continental Chairman and CEO Larry Kellner had a "meaningful" and "worthwhile" chat with the captain in his hospital room on Tuesday, airline spokeswoman Julie King said. She declined to give the specifics of what they talked about. Authorities say the captain was at the controls when the Houston-bound plane left the runway and sped about 2,000 feet across a taxiway, an access road and grassy slopes before sliding to a halt on its belly in a shallow ravine. All 115 passengers and crew got out through emergency exits. The NTSB said no problems were found with the brakes or the two main landing gear, but the nose gear was hidden under the fuselage, which was still lying in the ravine. NTSB spokesman Terry Williams the charred plane won't be moved until after Christmas. He said said investigators were still at the scene on Wednesday. Of the four people still hospitalized, two were in good condition at Denver Health Medical Center and two were in fair condition at the University of Colorado Hospital in suburban Aurora, including one who was upgraded from serious. King said Kellner also met with the airliner's employees in Denver and thanked "all of those who have assisted in this accident."
Previous Stories:
- December 24, 2008: Crash Victims Deal With Trauma
- December 23, 2008: Voice, Data Recorders From Charred Plane Analyzed
- December 22, 2008: Noises Heard On Plane That Veered Off Runway
- December 22, 2008: Investigators Enter Jet Wreckage Of 737
- December 22, 2008: Air Crash Victims Getting Better Treatment
- December 22, 2008: Crash Survivor Says Flight 1404 Full Of 'Heroes'
- December 22, 2008: DIA Crash Investigation Focuses Flight Recorders, Pilots
- December 22, 2008: Fire Fighter: I Was Expecting The Worst
- December 22, 2008: Many Theories, Few Answers To Explain Crash
- December 21, 2008: Passenger: 'The Plane Is Going To Blow Up'
- December 21, 2008: DIA Fliers Unfazed By Crash That Injured Dozens
- December 21, 2008: 737 Catches Fire On Takeoff At DIA, Plunges Into Ravine
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