01/29/2026
Today marks one year since the loss of 67 souls in the Ronald Reagan National Airport collision of American Airlines flight 5342 and the United States Army Blackhawk.
This was a tragic and traumatic disaster that will forever live in the minds and hearts of so many. Today at DCA, we continue to stand with our first responders from our family at Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Fire & Rescue Department and Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police Department and also many agencies around the area (to include Arlington and Fairfax County Police and Fire, DC Fire and Police, and surrounding Virginia and Maryland agencies and Federal agencies) who were there in so many different ways that cold January night and during recovery the weeks after. Whether they were on the boats, in the water, walking the shore, managing logistics, or escorting and protecting those families and friends who came searching for news of their loved ones while the chaos, press, and onlookers surrounded everyone...they did their job and they did it with care and they did it honorably. Many will say this was unlike anything they have ever seen in their career.
Everyone is grieving and healing from this catastrophic event in their own way, each day. Everyone has their own memories, their own experience, and their own path to walk through grief. We all stand with the families in their grief and their pain of the loss of their loved ones in such a tragic and shocking accident. Lives were lost within so many families and friendships. We honor the year of grief they have each individually experienced and offer these comforting words:
“Grief is the last act of love we can give to those we loved. Where there is deep grief, there was great love." --- Anonymous
This accident was a traumatic event for our MWAA Police and Fire family as it happened at their house, in their backyard. They are trained for this but it is still an absolute shocking event. It also impacted our police and fire department families and military units from around the entire area. As a team of clinicians alongside Lt. Tim Blayman of MWAA PD (and Tiller) and amazing Peer Support on that night, one year ago, we showed up. We showed up for our MWAA public safety family and surrounding agencies at the airport and we stayed there until after the sun came up as our first responders worked tirelessly for each and every person on those flights. We returned day after day along with peer supports that carried on through the weeks and months while these men and women continued to show up for duty and serve the community. Showing up is one way you can help people heal.
How do we heal? When a family has a loss they gather together. When an agency has a loss they gather together. One thing in the world of psychology is we all know that humans are unique and we are born with a chemical makeup that requires us to connect with one another. Connection has allowed for humans to survive the darkest times throughout history. That is why we have the ceremonies, the memorials, the national holidays to acknowledge tragic events, the long nights with the best friends, the special days with the family, we stick together in the dark, we light each other's candle, and the list goes on. Human connection is required for survival from birth. It’s how we thrive. We show up for each other. We stand with each other. We sit with each other. So today we will continue our part and sit around the kitchen table with our Firefighters, and the roll call rooms with our Police Officers, and the dispatch desks with our Public Safety Comms and be present... with a goofy fluffy dog named Bruce to bring some joy.
We hope that the families have connected with their loved ones today however they need. While we lose our loved ones we never lose our relationship with them.
Remember to check on each other and let others in. Take a moment tonight and light a candle in their honor.
(pictures of 2 peaceful moments recently at DCA)
