It’s been one year since an in-air collision near Reagan National Airport killed 67 people. On the anniversary, people in Northern Virginia and Washington, DC, are taking a moment to remember and memorialize the victims of the crash.
On the evening of January 29, 2025, an Army helicopter collided with American Airlines flight 5342 in the airspace near DCA. All 67 people aboard the two aircraft — 60 passengers and four crew members on the plane and three soldiers on the Black Hawk helicopter — were killed. It was the deadliest U.S. aviation crash since 2001.
Ashburn Ice House Unveils Statue
Among those victims were several members of the local figure skating community. In their memory, the Ashburn Ice House held a ceremony this week and unveiled a small statue in their honor.
It depicts “reaching above to achieve their highest potential — never giving up,” the Ashburn Ice House said in a statement.
Local artist Zachary Oxman, whose father designed the Ashburn Ice House, designed the statue. It will be on display in a memorial case at the facility and the Ice House will light a candle every year on the anniversary of the crash.
“This past year our rink has leaned on one another, found strength in shared memories, and discovered just how deep and resilient our skating community truly is,” the statement said. “This community became a source of comfort and healing for many, and a reminder that none of us skate alone. We will continue to carry their spirit in the way we support one another, in the passion we bring to the rink, and in the love we hold for this community. We skate for them — today, always, and for every year to come.”
Families Honor First Responders, Push for Change
In Washington, DC, families of the crash victims attended an event at the DAR Constitution Hall on Wednesday, January 28. The gathering served to remember the lives lost and honor the first responders who helped with the recovery efforts. The event also recognized the “unsung heroes who have supported the healing process and the ongoing push for aviation safety.”
After the crash, many of the victims’ families have advocated for air safety reform. In September, the family of victim Casey Crofton filed the first lawsuit in the case, saying that the crash was “wholly unavoidable.”
The National Transportation Safety Board, which has been investigating the crash, also issued a statement on the anniversary, saying that the crash was due to “systemic failures.”
“This complex and comprehensive one-year investigation identified serious and long-standing safety gaps in the airspace over our nation’s capital,” said Jennifer Homendy, NTSB chair. “Sadly, the conditions for this tragedy were in place long before the night of January 29.”
Feature image courtesy Ashburn Ice House
