Flight 3407 victims' families DC bound

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Around 50 family members of the victims of Flight 3407 will soon be heading to Washington D.C. for the 4th Anniversary of the tragic plane crash.

While they're in Washington, they will be pushing the FAA Lawmakers to take safety in the air even further.

Laura Vogt's 24-year-old sister Elly Kausner, was killed on Continental Flight 3407.

"She wanted to be a lawyer because she believed in the system. She believed that the law could protect people and do good things and that's why she wanted to be a lawyer so it's just ironic that here we are trying to change the law for her and that was her passion," said Vogt.

RELATED | Congress passed a law in August 2010 to make the skies safer. The FAA was supposed to be implementing the new regulations but deadlines just kept coming and passing by with nothing done.

Vogt and the families who lost loved ones in the crash are demanding better training for pilots. She said, "We are really pushing for the number of hours the pilots have to be trained. Right now they need less training than a cosmetologist which is pretty absurd in the air and the type of training they are getting because they are not required to be trained to fly in cold weather."

Related past story | FAA proposes new pilot fatigue rules

Republican Chris Collins says he will also be doing what he can. "I will be fighting for them in the majority to make sure we hold the FAA accountable for the fact that they've missed their deadline by one year."

The families together, will spend the day together that each year doesn't seem to get any easier. "We lost 51 people and their memories inspire us to keep doing what we're doing. At the end of the day it's just about the fact that they're gone and we don't want someone else to have to go through it," said Vogt.

While families take the time to remember their loved ones, there will be a small local vigil held on Tuesday.