Another 9-11 activist told reporters Friday that Eckert had been aboard the commuter passenger jet, heading to her hometown of Buffalo Thursday night, when the plane nose-dived into a house in suburban Buffalo. Officials investigating the crash have not yet confirmed she was on board the plane.
Eckert's husband Sean Rooney died in the attack on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, and Eckert had planned to celebrate what would have been her late husband's 58th birthday this weekend.
Eckert had been part of a small group of Sept. 11 widows, mothers, and children who became amateur lobbyists on Capitol Hill following the terrorist attacks. Her team ultimately forced lawmakers in 2004 to pass sweeping reforms of the U.S. intelligence reform law.
As co-chair of the "9-11 Family Steering Committee," she pushed for a 9-11 Commission. She pushed the Bush administration to provide more information to the commission, and when the commission's work was over, she pushed Congress to adopt their recommendations.
When it was over, Eckert vowed to quit her high-profile role and return to a regular life.
"I did all of this for Sean's memory, I did it for him," she said at the time, between tears. "There is a euphoria in knowing that we reached the top of the hill."
While Eckert stepped out of the spotlight after the law passed, choosing to work with Habitat for Humanity helping build homes for low-income families, just last week, Eckert was at the White House for a meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama.
She and other relatives of those killed in the 9-11 attacks and the bombing of the USS Cole to discuss how the new administration would handle terror suspects.
Obama called Eckert "a tireless advocate" who was filled with "passion and commitment."
"She was an inspiration to me and so many others and I pray that her family finds peace and comfort in the hard days ahead," he said in remarks to reporters Friday morning.
Other 9-11 activists expressed grief over news of Eckert's death.
"I'm in shock, I just can't believe it," said Carie Lemack, whose mother died Sept. 11 on one of the hijacked planes. "Beverly had a can-do attitude about everything, and she never gave up."
"She was such an important part of all of our work," said Mary Fetchet, another 9-11 family activist.
The other names of those on board the plane are beginning to trickle out. Officials from Continental Airlines have identified the crew as:
- Pilot Capt. Marvin Renslow
- First officer Rebecca Shaw
- Flight attendant Matilda Quintero
- Flight attendant Donna Prisco
An off-duty crew member was also on board. He has been identified as Capt. Joseph Zuffoletto.
The names of the other victims on board have not been released. Police have also not released the name of the man inside the house who was killed.
In Ottawa, the Foreign Affairs Department says no Canadians were believed aboard but officials were still checking.
More than two dozen relatives descended on the Buffalo airport Thursday night, looking for information on their loved ones. They were escorted into a private area at the airport and then taken by bus to a senior citizens centre in the neighbouring town of Cheektowaga, where counsellors and representatives from Continental waited to help.
Chris Kausner, believing his sister was on the plane, rushed to a hastily established command centre after calling his vacationing mother in Florida to break the news.
"To tell you the truth, I heard my mother make a noise on the phone that I've never heard before. So not good, not good," he told reporters.
The operator of the plane, Colgan Air, said they were helping relatives to alert other family members.
"At this time, the full resources of Colgan Air's accident response team are being mobilized and will be devoted to cooperating with all authorities responding to the accident and to contacting family members and providing assistance to them," they said in a statement
Continental chairman and CEO Larry Kellner extended his companies "deepest sympathy to the family members and loved ones of those involved in this accident."
"Our thoughts and prayers are with all of the family members and loved ones of those involved in the flight 3407 tragedy," he said in a statement.
Relatives and friends of those on Flight 3407 who want to give or receive information about those on board can telephone a special family assistance number, 1-800-621-3263.
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