Households of 67 Killed in US Plane Crash Keep in mind Cherished Ones and Name for Reforms

Households of the 67 individuals who died in an plane collision final January gathered on Wednesday night to mark the primary anniversary, simply sooner or later after investigators testified about years of ignored warnings and near-misses.

Members of the family and politicians spoke Wednesday all through the music-filled ceremony honoring the victims who died when an American Airways jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter collided close to Reagan Nationwide Airport on Jan. 29, 2025, outdoors of Washington, D.C., marking the deadliest aircraft crash on U.S. soil since 2001.

“Whereas we had been powerless in that second to assist our family members, we weren’t powerless to assist one another,” mentioned Doug Lane, husband of Christine Conrad Lane, 49, and father of aspiring determine skater Spencer Lane, 16, who died within the crash. “In order that’s what we did, and that’s what we’ve executed ever since.”

The viewers packed the Daughters of the American Revolution Structure Corridor in Washington.

Everybody aboard the helicopter and jet — flying from Wichita, Kansas — died when the 2 aircrafts collided and plummeted into the icy Potomac River.

There wasn’t one single trigger for the crash, based on testimony from Nationwide Transportation Security Board investigators on Tuesday throughout an hourslong listening to.

The crash was “100% preventable,” mentioned board Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy.

Expressions of remembrance and gratitude 

The memorial included musical performances, together with nation music stars, the D.C. Hearth Division Emerald Society’s pipes and drums band, and individually, a efficiency by a firefighter who was there on the evening of the crash. The ceremony additionally included a montage of portraits, commencement photos, movies taken on sunny holidays and clips of performances from a number of the 28 determine skaters who had been killed.

Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins additionally introduced {that a} memorial plaque could be established on the Potomac River.

First responders who rushed to the crash — many plunging into the freezing river, first in an try to avoid wasting lives, after which later to seek for our bodies — had been honored Wednesday with metals.

“Whereas this has been my household’s worst 12 months, the identical is true of most of the first responders who responded on the scene. We acknowledge the toll this has taken on you, and tonight is our alternative to say thanks,” mentioned Matt Collins, the brother of passenger Chris Collins, 42.

Lots of the relations additionally attended Tuesday’s NTSB listening to. Some had been escorted out, together with two in tears, as they noticed an animation recreating a number of the remaining moments of their family members’ lives. Others wore black shirts bearing the names of first responder models.

Suggestions to keep away from tragedy 

Testimony Tuesday concluded with suggestions from the NTSB to stop crashes.

Some reforms depend on Congress, the Army and the Trump administration. Chief amongst them is a invoice that may require plane to have superior locator methods to assist stop collisions, which NTSB has beneficial for years. Republican Sen. Ted Cruz mentioned on the memorial that the invoice was near remaining passage.

Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy applauded the households for his or her advocacy.

“Clearly you had been offended. You could not comprehend, how might this occur? Who might let this occur?” Duffy mentioned. “You had selections, and also you selected to pay it ahead.”

Many households on Wednesday doubled down on the necessity for reforms.

“Honoring the 67 means greater than remembering who they had been,” mentioned Rachel Feres, the cousin of Peter Livingston, 48, who died alongside together with his spouse, Donna Livingston, 48, and their youngsters, Alydia Livingston, 11, and Everly Livingston, 14. “It means permitting their lives and our love for them to form what we select to do going ahead.”