Clinton Lawyer Killed in Jet After ‘Severe Turbulence’

On Monday, authorities identified the woman who passed away after a business jet encountered severe turbulence over New England. The woman served under the Clinton administration as well.

Dana J. Hyde, a well-known Beltway attorney who previously served on the 9/11 Commission, was named by Connecticut State Troopers, one of the agencies involved in investigating the emergency landing at Bradley International Airport. Hyde, 55, resided in Cabin John, Maryland, and was transported by ambulance to Saint Francis Medical Center in Hartford, where she was later declared deceased.

Hyde served both the Obama and Clinton administration. According to her website “Hyde also served as Counsel to the 9/11 Commission and as Special Assistant to the Deputy Attorney General in the Clinton Administration.” 

Five people were on board the plane. No other passengers were killed. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is conducting an investigation, and they have interviewed the two crew members and two passengers who survived to determine if they had their seat belts fastened during the turbulence. Additionally, the cockpit voice and data recorders of the jet have been dispatched to the NTSB headquarters for further analysis.

The National Transportation Safety Board said it’s “‘looking at a “reported trim issue,’ a reference to adjustments that are made to an airplane’s control surfaces to ensure it is stable and level in flight. The agency initially reported that the plane experienced severe turbulence late Friday afternoon.”

Turbulence is a normal and usually harmless occurrence during a flight. While it can be uncomfortable and sometimes frightening for passengers, the vast majority of turbulence encounters do not result in any injuries or fatalities. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, from 2009 to 2018, turbulence caused an average of 44 injuries per year to passengers and crew on commercial flights in the United States, with no fatalities reported.