Galaxy Airlines Flying Again After FAA Inspection of Planes
Galaxy Airlines resumed operations Saturday after federal officials finished inspecting its fleet, Galaxy President Phillip Sheridan said in a statement issued in Reno, Nev.
A Galaxy Lockheed Electra crashed Monday in Reno, shortly after takeoff on a charter flight from Reno to Minneapolis, killing 68 of the 71 people aboard.
On Thursday, Galaxy voluntarily suspended operations to allow the Federal Aviation Administration to inspect the rest of the airline’s fleet, which consists of three Electras used as cargo craft, Sheridan said.
“Galaxy is pleased to announce that the FAA has completed full aircraft inspections to its satisfaction,” Sheridan said. “As a result, Galaxy has resumed operations.”
In Minneapolis, about 250 friends and relatives of the victims gathered Saturday for a memorial service, as the bodies of those killed in the crash began arriving from Nevada. Minnesota Gov. Rudy Perpich earlier declared a day of mourning for the 68 victims and urged state residents to extend “strong arms of support” to their survivors.
The flag on the Minnesota state Capitol will be flown at half-staff Sunday, and Perpich called for a day of mourning on Sunday. Most of the victims of Galaxy Airlines Flight 203 were from Minnesota.
The Lockheed Electra turboprop was returning to Minneapolis from a weekend gamblers’ holiday when it crashed. Two of the survivors, George Lamson Sr., 42, of St. Paul and Bob Miggins of Plymouth, Minn., remained in critical condition Saturday. Lamson’s 17-year-old son, George Jr., walked away from the crash.
