Beverly Eckert, the widow of 9-11 victim Sean Rooney, was among those killed when Continental flight 3407 crashed on approach to the Buffalo airport Thursday evening.
Sean Rooney died in the World Trade Center attack.
Eckert was the founder of Voices of September 11th, a victim’s advocacy group of September 11 widows, mothers and children who ultimately forced lawmakers to pass reforms of the U.S. intelligence apparatus.
Just last week, Eckert was at the White House with President Obama, as part of a meeting with relatives of those killed in the 2001 attacks and the bombing of the USS Cole to discuss how the new administration would handle terror suspects.
Eckert was flying to her hometown and had planned to celebrate her late husband’s 58th birthday.