Flight 3407 images give many views of crash

The first images of the horrific plane crash yesterday of Flight 3407 near Buffalo, NY, came from witnesses at the crash site. These videos were uploaded onto YouTube and by noon had been viewed by tens of thousands of people.

This user-generated content (UGC) is a new way for people to truly understand the devastation of a tragedy like this. These images are far more graphic than traditional media footage because they capture the raw emotion of the crash and the witnesses to it. The various videos show the immediate aftermath of Flight 3407 slamming into a house in the small town of Clarence, NY, and were posted to share the witnesses’ own experience.

Unsurprisingly, the major media channels have been airing these videos on national news feeds as well. This is an example of how UGC will continue grow as a legitimate means of news gathering. The videos also stand as a tribute to the deceased because they will be around long after the news channels have stopped covering the story.