Stories: Sept. 2-21, 2006 | Stories: Sept. 22, 2006-2007
THE INVESTIGATION | Tribute to the victims

EARLY ON SUNDAY, AUG. 27, 2006, Comair Flight 5191 took off from the wrong runway at Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, crashing into trees and killing 49 of the 50 people on board. Many of the passengers were Central Kentuckians. Here you will find the Herald-Leader's coverage of the crash and its aftermath, along with the stories of the victims and the lone survivor.

• Son of Comair crash victim finds friend in Transy president

• Lexington crash brings subtle changes in aviation

• Neighbors rallied to help after 5191

• Ky. Supreme Court hears Comair's arguments

• Trial canceled for Comair 5191 crash lawsuits

The Federal Aviation Administration acknowledged yesterday that it violated its own rule by having only one air-traffic controller, rather than two, monitoring the Blue Grass Airport on Sunday.

• Experts are baffled that so many built-in safeguards were overlooked

• First officer emerges from induced coma but is still in critical condition
• Airport opens a memorial site
• Pilots had flown out of Blue Grass several times
• Scorched earth, the smell of jet fuel: Impressions from the first journalists at the site
• Airport plan calls for moving Runway 26
• Coroner did his duty knowing his sister was on the plane
• Aviation law experts weigh in on potential lawsuits• Identification packets assembled for 30 crash victims• Prayers for the fallen: Friends and family attend service for victims• Comair president has lived and breathed the company for years

'A message of hope'

Service held for family members

By Jim Warren

Five hundred to 600 family members attended. "Some are still very emotional, some are struggling to contain their emotions," said Amber Youngblood of the Red Cross. "It has been a horrific week for them, and we simply hope that this will be a step in their healing process."

• Meet the surgeon who helped the lone survivor
• Congressmen call for tower-staffing inquiry
• Second controller would have been watching radar
• All 49 bodies have been identified, released
• Airport board calls meeting to discuss proposed litigation
• The U.S. attorney's office warns lawyers against contacting families
• Community's compassionate response noted
• Matter of luck: Two tell of surviving major jetliner crashes
• Doomed plane's pilot grew up with a passion to fly
• Comair care team members serve as liaisons, helpers for victims' families

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Stories: Sept. 2-21, 2006 | Stories: Sept. 22, 2006-2007 | THE INVESTIGATION | Tribute to the victims