The conveyor belt ignited on the morning of January 19, 2006, pouring smoke through the gaps in the wall and into the fresh air passageway that the miners were supposed to use for their escape, obscuring their vision and ultimately leading to the death of two of them.
On January 15, 2009, the Charleston Gazette reported that Aracoma widows, Delorice Bragg and Freda Hatfield, urged Federal District Judge Judge John T. Copenhaver to reject Massey Energy's plea bargain and record-setting $2.5 million (~$3.45 million in 2023) fine for criminal charges, the highest fine ever for a mine safety violation.
Bragg's widow stated that it was clear "that Massey executives much farther up the line expected the Alma Mine to emphasize production over the safety of the coal miners inside."
[4] On July 20, 2010, West Virginia residents Michael Plumley of Delbarton, Donald Hagy Jr. of Gilbert; Edward Ellis Jr. of Justice; and Terry Shadd of Chapmanville, pleaded guilty to federal charges related to the accident.
In addition to the monetary considerations, the United States government and families agreed to the following: 1) The Mine Safety and Health Administration ("MSHA") will provide plaintiffs with an unredacted copy of the independent review interview given by Richard E. Stickler on November 9, 2007, and Kevin Stricklin on November 7, 2007, as part of the Crandall Canyon Investigation, insofar as they were speaking about Aracoma, but subject to the protective order entered in this action.
2) MSHA will provide plaintiffs with hard copies of and electronic links to Congressional statements and news releases concerning the implementation of the Miner Act for the years 2006 and 2007.