These families are demanding changes to US air travel and safety, worried that any unaddressed issues in the system could lead to even more tragedies like the one here at Reagan National Airport. Peter and Donna and their two girls Rachel Ferris remembers her cousin Peter. Livingston, his wife Donna, and daughters Everly and Aydia. The girls were chasing Olympic dreams and flying home from ice skating camp when *** military Black Hawk collided with their passenger plane. Ferris learned the news in *** call with her dad, and he said, I have terrible news. Peter, Donna, Everly, and Olidia were on the plane and they’re all gone. They’re all gone. And it was just um. Devastating. They are 4 of the 67 victims in the deadly crash in January last year. This week, family, friends and strangers gathered in Washington to memorialize the Livingstons and others like Chris Collins. He’s missed dearly, missed daily. Chris was returning from *** work trip when he was routed onto flight 5342. His brother remembers his love for animals and the outdoors. He went and walked rescue dogs almost every single day, every day that he wasn’t traveling. He traveled *** lot for work, but whenever he was home. That’s what he did. The memories and grief are fueling calls for action. This was preventable. This was 100% preventable. At *** hearing this week, investigators said years of ignored warnings over air traffic dangers, lack of military and air tower training, and underuse FAA data of near misses around the airport were factors that led to the crash. We couldn’t find any evidence of annual reviews, nor could FAA tell us who did them. That is astounding to me. Warning signs that Ferris says can prevent the next tragedy and could have saved her family. I think that the outcome of January 29th would have been very different. My family would be here if any one of these things had been paid attention to. The families in NTSB are pushing for *** bill that would require what’s called advanced locator systems, essentially GPS trackers on all aircraft. It’s so far gained unanimous support from the Senate. Reporting at Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington. I’m Amy Liu.
On the eve of the one-year anniversary of the deadly plane crash in Washington, D.C., families of those killed held a memorial to honor their loved ones and first responders.It was a somber event, but one marked with gratitude and resolve to prevent future families from experiencing such tragedy. “Honoring the 67 means more than remembering who they were,” Amy Hunter said. “It means allowing their lives and our love for them to shape what we choose to do moving forward.”Hunter’s cousin Peter Livingston, along with his wife, Donna, and their two girls, Everly and Alydia, were on the plane. After dozens of first responders were honored with medals, a final, surprise medal of honor was awarded to Hunter for her leadership and work fighting for the families.Many of the families have stayed in touch. They hold weekly calls to connect and support one another, but also to organize their advocacy for safer skies. “While we were powerless in that moment to help our loved ones, we were not powerless to help each other,” Doug Lane said to the crowd that evening. Lane’s wife, Christine, and his 16-year-old son, Spencer, were both on the plane. On Jan. 29, 2025, a military helicopter collided with American Airlines Flight 5342 as the airplane was on approach to land at Reagan National Airport. All 67 people aboard the aircraft were killed.Click on each image below to learn more about the victims. Two victims still have not been publicly identified.At the memorial, families gave first responders a standing ovation for their work in the aftermath of the collision. More than 1,700 first responders, medical professionals, investigators, and support personnel were involved in the efforts, according to the event’s program.
On the eve of the one-year anniversary of the deadly plane crash in Washington, D.C., families of those killed held a memorial to honor their loved ones and first responders.
It was a somber event, but one marked with gratitude and resolve to prevent future families from experiencing such tragedy.
“Honoring the 67 means more than remembering who they were,” Amy Hunter said. “It means allowing their lives and our love for them to shape what we choose to do moving forward.”
Hunter’s cousin Peter Livingston, along with his wife, Donna, and their two girls, Everly and Alydia, were on the plane.
After dozens of first responders were honored with medals, a final, surprise medal of honor was awarded to Hunter for her leadership and work fighting for the families.
Many of the families have stayed in touch. They hold weekly calls to connect and support one another, but also to organize their advocacy for safer skies.
“While we were powerless in that moment to help our loved ones, we were not powerless to help each other,” Doug Lane said to the crowd that evening. Lane’s wife, Christine, and his 16-year-old son, Spencer, were both on the plane.
On Jan. 29, 2025, a military helicopter collided with American Airlines Flight 5342 as the airplane was on approach to land at Reagan National Airport. All 67 people aboard the aircraft were killed.
Click on each image below to learn more about the victims.
Two victims still have not been publicly identified.
At the memorial, families gave first responders a standing ovation for their work in the aftermath of the collision.
More than 1,700 first responders, medical professionals, investigators, and support personnel were involved in the efforts, according to the event’s program.
