Twelve New Jerseyans were among those who lost their lives in the crash of Continental Connection Flight 3407, the commuter flight from Newark that dropped out of the sky near Buffalo late Thursday.

Madeline Loftus, an avid hockey player originally from Parsippany, was on her way to Buffalo State University for a reunion game with former teammates. In high school, Loftus excelled in scholastics and athletics. She was a four-time varsity letterer with Parsippany?s otherwise all-boy hockey team.

Two of Flight 3407?s crew were also from New Jersey ? Matilda Quintero, of Woodbridge, and Donna Prisco, of Randolph.

Also on board was Beverly Eckert, a Sept. 11 widow who used to live in Elizabeth. Eckert was on her way to her hometown of Buffalo to award a scholarship in his honor and to celebrate what would have been his 58th birthday. Following her husband?s death, Eckert became a visible member of Sept. 11 victim community. Just last week she was among family members of victims who discussed closing Guantanamo Bay?s detention center with President Barack Obama.

Jazz musicians Coleman Mellett, of East Brunswick, and Gerry Niewood, of Glen Ridge, have also been identified as passengers on the fatal flight.

Other New Jersey deaths known so far include Jean Shrents, of Hunterdon County, Lorin Maurer, of Princeton, and Ronald Gonzalez, of New Brunswick.

9/11 widow, jazz musicians among dead in crashListof Flight 3407 victims from New Jersey