Norfolk Southern faces NEW federal probe for separate incident weeks after ... trends now

The chief executive of Norfolk Southern told Senators Thursday that he is 'deeply sorry' for last month's toxic train derailment in East Palestine, and that he is 'personally committed' to addressing the disaster. 

Beginning his testimony with an apology to the communities hurt his railroad's February 3 derailment, CEO Alan Shaw vowed to accomplish this task by spending the money necessary to make affected communities once again whole.

The highly anticipated Capitol Hill appearance was the exec's first since the derailment, and saw him repeatedly apologize for the high-profile incident.

Still underway, the hearing came mere hours after it was revealed the embattled railroad company, currently the subject of a NTSB probe, is facing yet another federal investigation for a previously unreported incident that transpired weeks after the East Palestine incident.

Electing not to address the February 27 incident, Shaw told lawmakers he is 'sorry' for the impact the Ohio derailment has had on the people of East Palestine and neighboring communities.

Citing donations already made to the Ohio town as well as bordering communities in Pennsylvania roughly 1,000 feet from the crash site, Shaw said in his opening statement that is embattled company is 'determined' to make things right.

'I want to begin today by expressing how deeply sorry I am for the impact this derailment had on the residents of East Palestine and the surrounding communities,' he said. 'I am determined to make this right.'

'Norfolk Southern will clean the site safely, thoroughly and with urgency. You have my personal commitment. Norfolk Southern will get the job done and help East Palestine thrive.'

Shaw would proceed to detail pledges the company has already made to help in the still continuing cleanup effort in East Palestine, to the tune of $21 million, as well as an additional $7.5 million for neighboring communities in Pennsylvania.

The freighter derailed near the state line between Ohio and Pennsylvania, though residents across the border, unlike those in East Palestine, were not made to evacuate.

Norfolk Southern is facing yet another probe into its handling of a separate incident that transpired just weeks after the toxic train derailment in East Palestine.

The previously unreported lapse in protocol allegedly took place 24 days after the accident in Ohio, and involved a similar Norfolk freighter passing through the small town of Stoneville in North Carolina.

Carrying combustible chemical compounds such as ethanol and propane, the train reportedly encountered a malfunction where one of the cars on the nearly-two mile was 'trending hot', but not hot enough to trigger an actual alarm.

Noticing the overheating car, a conductor, wary of a potential explosion, radioed a dispatcher to suggest the train stop and be inspected. The crew reportedly supported this assessment, but dispatch ultimately decided to overrule the crew and continue forward. 

Staffers later filed a complaint with the Federal Railroad Administration, saying they were 'shocked' they were allowed to continue some 40 miles south to heavily populated Winston-Salem, despite warnings the hazardous materials could pose a threat not only to the crew, but to adjacent communities.

The revelation comes as Norfolk CEO Alan Shaw is grilled by senators over a series of derailments, where he is expected to apologize.