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The devastating mid-air collision of the American Eagle Flight 5342 and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter claimed the lives of 67 people, including a child who survived cancer at just four months old.
The tragic incident happened over the Potomac River on Wednesday night, as the plane carrying 60 passengers and four crew members approached Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Three military personnel were aboard the helicopter when it collided with the commercial flight.
Authorities have confirmed no survivors in what has become one of the deadliest aviation accidents in the United States in recent decades.
Among the victims were 42-year-old Justyna Beyer and her 12-year-old daughter, Brielle. Brielle had bravely overcome cancer as an infant and had recently attended the U.S. Figure Skating National Development Camp in Wichita, Kansas, and was headed back to D.C. with her mom.
"She was just such a fighter in everything she did," her father, Andy Beyer, told ABC News.
"She just lived life to the fullest with everything."
Brielle beat cancer at just four months old. She then fell in love with figure skating and was "so proud of herself" for making it to the Skating Club of Northern Virginia.
"Making that team was one of her life goals. And she achieved it. And she was just so, so proud of herself," Andy added, revealing that the mom-daughter duo were away for six days for the camp.
Andy is left with his 6-year-old son.
Senator Chris Coons also confirmed that a skating coach and two young skaters from Delaware were among the casualties.
"I’m devastated to hear the news that at least three Delawareans died during last night’s air collision. Sasha Kirsanov, Sean Kay, and Angela Yang went to Wichita to pursue their passion for figure skating. It is a tragedy that none of them returned home to our state," the state senator wrote on X.
Rescue teams have been diligently working to recover the victims and debris from the crash site. More than half of the bodies have already been recovered, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin told Reuters.
The operation has transitioned from search and rescue to recovery, acknowledging the absence of survivors. As of Thursday evening, at least 14 victims were still missing.
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