A vigil was held in Wichita for the victims of a plane crash near Washington, D.C. Mayor Lily Wu led a prayer vigil inside and later outside of Wichita City Hall Thursday. Sixty-seven people died after an American Eagle flight from Wichita collided mid-air with a military helicopter while on approach to Reagan National Airport, sending both aircraft into the Potomac River on Wednesday night.
A civil rights attorney and former Miss Kansas contestant is among the victims of Wednesday’s plane crash near Washington, D.C. involving a flight from Wichita. Kiah Duggans grew up in Wichita and represented the Miss Kansas Organization as Miss Butler County in 2015. Two of her associates, Sarah Lee Best and Elizabeth Anne Keys, were with her. Grace Maxwell, a Wichita woman who attended Cedarville University in Ohio, was traveling back to campus from home. A couple from Kiowa, Kansas, who were traveling to visit their daughter in college were on the flight A groups of friends returning home from a Kansas hunting trip were on the flight. . A group of figure skaters and their parents and coaches were on the flight. The flight crew were based out of North Carolina.
The Wichita community is stepping up to help the families of those killed in Wednesday’s plane crash near Washington D.C. The Wichita Foundation has established the I-C-T Together Fund. People are being urged to donate to the fund, which will be used for crisis remediation and mental health resources.
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UPDATE: No survivors are expected to be found in the crash involving an American Airlines jet and Army Black Hawk helicopter near Washington, DC. The crash happened Wednesday night as the commercial jet was approaching Reagan National Airport. It was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members on the flight from Wichit. Dozens of bodies have been pulled from the wreckage.
Fourteen figure skaters are believed to have died in last night’s crash involving an American Airlines flight and military helicopter near Washington, D.C. Skating Club of Boston CEO Doug Zeghibe called it a major loss for the skating community. Six of the passengers were connected to the Skating Club of Boston including two skaters, two coaches and two mothers. U.S. Figure Skating said in a statement last night the group of young athletes were returning from the National Development Camp in Wichita, Kansas. Also on board were former Russian world champion skaters Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov.
Wichita Mayor Lily Wu says her community needs to come together to support the families of passengers on the plane in last nights crash near Washington, D.C. Wu said it’s not yet clear how many on the plane were residents of Wichita. Kansas Congressman Ron Estes called it a tragic day for his community. The Wichita director of airports said a family care team was activated to provide support for those who had loved ones on the plane.
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ORIGINAL: An American Airlines flight that departed from Kansas was involved in a mid-air collision and crash near Washington, D.C. late Wednesday night.
The Federal Aviation Administration says American Eagle Flight 5342 from Wichita collided with a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter as it was approaching a runway at Reagan National Airport. The collision sent both aircraft into the Potomac River, and officials have confirmed fatalities. The plane had 60 passengers and four crew members aboard, and the helicopter had three crew members aboard. Officials have confirmed that the helicopter was on a training flight.
Rescue crews were searching for survivors through the night. Reports from the scene indicated several bodies have been pulled from the river. Eisenhower National Airport, where the flight originated from, activated an incident and support team to help at the terminal to provide families with information.
U.S. Figure Skating says a group of athletes and coaches were on the flight. The organization released a statement saying a group of young athletes, coaches and family members were returning from a National Development Camp being held in Wichita. The statement said the organization was devastated by the “unspeakable tragedy” and that it would release more details when available.
The CEO of American Airlines is expressing sympathy for the victims . Isom said the company is actively working with authorities and the National Transportation Safety Board.
Officials are reacting to the mid-air collision. Kansas Senator Roger Marshall says he asks the world to join him in praying for Kansas, the first responders, rescue crews, and all those involved in this horrific accident. President Donald Trump said in a statement, “may God bless their souls,” and that he is thanking first responders for their incredible work.