PHOTO LINK BELOW: The organization which has been known to step up to plate and handle tragic situations has once again demonstrated their expertise with last weeks plane crash in Buffalo, NY.

Within minutes of the news that a flight from Newark to Buffalo crashed into a home, Misaskim Volunteers were in Newark Airport working closely with federal, state, and local officials. Misaskim’s high-tech command center was activated, and volunteers began working the phone-lines.

Hatzolah of Toronto was immediately contacted, who together with Misaskim contacted the local Rabbonim in Buffalo. Preliminary instructions were given to them on how they should handle the crisis.

After a long night at the airport, although there were quite a few “Jewish-sounding names” aboard the flight, there was no confirmation to this.

Early Friday, a confirmation was given to Misaskim that there was one Jewish woman on the flight. Additionally, there was word coming from the Israeli Foreign Ministry of an Israeli citizen aboard the flight.

Meanwhile, the intense fire burned throughout Friday, making a recovery effort virtually impossible.

Being that Shabbos was rapidly approaching, Misaskim along with the local Rabbonim arranged with the Medical Examiner and Sheriff Department to have an official drive to their homes to update them throughout Shabbos on any development’s.

Misaskim also received a verbal confirmation from high-ranking officials that there would not be any bodies removed from the wreckage until late Shabbos or Sunday morning. This put Misaskim & the Rabbonim at ease, being that Chillul Shabbos is not permitted under such circumstances for these Niftarim.

Immediately after Shabbos, arrangements were made in Buffalo for a few Misaskim Volunteers to fly to the crash site and meet with the scene commanders from all agencies involved.

Upon their arrival at Buffalo Airport, they were driven to the command center by a Toronto Hatzolah Member, and briefed by Erie County officials. The State Police gave Misaskim an escort and full-access-passes were given.

Misaskim spent the entire day at the scene meeting with top-brass from the NTSB, FAA, FBI, NYSP, Erie County Sheriff Department, the Chief Medical Examiner, NY State Fire, and many other agencies. They were given a tour of the entire site, and briefed on how the recovery effort was being done.

The recovery effort was one which brought back memories of the long & painful recovery at the World Trade Center (9/11). Most noticeable was the stench of death R”L, and the worried and determined looks on the faces of the emergency personnel operating on the scene. Small buckets of sand and debris were being carried by hand, and placed onto a sifter. Rescue workers then sifted tediously through the muddy sand and placed all body parts in one area, while parts of the aircraft were placed in another area.

Being that the main part of the burned wreck was below ground (in the basement of the home which had stood there), a “pit” was being dug with shovels and assisted with bulldozers and backhoes.

The local medical examiner explained to Misaskim that unfortunately, due to the condition that many bodies were found in, extensive DNA testing would be required in identifying most of the victims R”L.

She was very understanding to the needs of Kevuras Yisroel, and pledged to Misaskim to work hand-in-hand with the local Rabbonim & Misaskim in ensuring that nothing would be done against Halacha, while following the NYS Law.

Misaskim is still working with officials and local Rabbonim in trying to find out if the remaining “Jewish-sounding names” are in fact Jewish.

Speaking to YWN, a spokesperson from Misaskim who was at the scene said that “it is most appropriate that the local Chevra Kaddisha – who is very capable of handling this crisis – deal with the Medical Examiner and Kevura of the Jewish souls aboard the doomed flight.”

After leaving the scene of the crash, Misaskim had a meeting with the local Rabbonim to brief and instruct them on what was being done on the ground, and what work needs to be done in the days ahead.

“The ID process may still take days – if not weeks – as it did on 9/11”, Misaskim told YWN. “We hope that it will only be a few days until the Jewish people aboard the flight can be brought to Kevuras Yisroel.

Just two-years ago, Misaskim participated in numerous NTSB drills – and Boruch Hashem, the experience acquired at that drill was put to work in this tragic incident. In fact, various officials which attended that drill two years ago were on the scene and accommodated Misaskim in every request that they had.

“It’s unfortunate, but incidents like these do occur, and constant training for such a tragedy must be constantly done”.
 
YWN mourns the death of all the people whose lives were lost on Flight 3407.

YWN PHOTO LINK: Click HERE for photos.

(Meir Lewittes – YWN NYC)