Settlements Continue in Clarence Plane Crash Lawsuits

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) - Nearly four years after the crash of Continental Flight 3407 near Buffalo, about a dozen wrongful death lawsuits remain in federal court.

In a memo updating the judge this week, lawyers representing the victims' families and the airlines they're suing say 29 settlements have been approved, with two settlements pending. That leaves 11 cases outstanding and perhaps headed for trial.

A handful of other suits remain in state Supreme Court.

Settlement amounts haven't been disclosed.

The Newark, N.J.-to-Buffalo flight operated by regional carrier Colgan Air crashed into a home in suburban Clarence on Feb. 9, 2009. All 49 people on board and a man in the house died.

The passengers' families' lawsuits name Continental, Colgan, its parent, Pinnacle Airlines, the plane's maker, Bombardier, and FlightSafety International, which trained the pilots.