Updates on the Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia Plane Crashes
An American Airlines passenger jet and a Blackhawk military helicopter collided Jan. 29 over the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. The plane, which departed from Wichita, Kansas, was en route to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport when the Blackhawk struck it, killing all 67 people aboard between both aircrafts.
The underlying cause of the incident is still under investigation. According to MSN.com, the remains of all 67 victims have been recovered and identified, and officials are working to return the bodies to their respective family members.
Among the victims were 28 members of the figure skating community, many of whom were children returning from a figure skating camp in Kansas.
In an interview with ABC News, the CEO of the Boston Skating Club said, “Our sport and this club have suffered a horrible loss with this tragedy. Skating is a tight-knit community where parents and kids come together six or seven days a week to train and work together. Everyone is like family. We are devastated and completely at a loss for words.”
To honor the life and legacy of the skaters killed in the crash, various figure skating champions will perform a tribute show called “Legacy on Ice.” The show — which will be held on March 2 — will celebrate the victims’ lives and raise funds for their families, first responders and those in aviation.
In response to the accident, President Donald Trump ordered the Secretary of Transportation and Administrator of the FAA “to review all hiring decisions and changes to safety protocols made during the prior four years, and to take such corrective action as necessary to achieve uncompromised aviation safety.”
Updates on the Philadelphia Plane Crash
A medical jet carrying a child patient, her mother and four crew members crashed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Jan. 31 killing all six people on board as well as a seventh victim on the ground, according to a report by FOX 29. The plane was tasked with returning 12-year-old Valentina Guzman Murillo to Mexico following her treatment at Shriners Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia. However, the jet only climbed to around 1,500 feet before crashing into a neighborhood intersection, creating an impact zone spanning several blocks. At least 22 others were also injured.
According to a report from NBC Philadelphia, National Transportation Safety Board, investigators recovered the craft’s cockpit voice recorder, which will provide crucial evidence in the ongoing investigation. The cause of the accident remains unknown. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy promised to provide answers, saying, “We have agreed to be as transparent as possible with information as it comes out.”
Meanwhile, the neighborhood affected by the crash is still reeling from shock. The City of Philadelphia held a town hall meeting on Feb. 5 and announced a disaster relief fund called “The One Philly Fund.” The fund accepts monetary donations and provides aid to those impacted by the crash as they seek to rebuild their lives. Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker remarked on the importance of community support, saying it is, “generosity, combined with the resilience of those impacted by this tragedy, that will help our city and Northeast Philadelphia heal.”
Zajonc is a news reporter for the Liberty Champion.