Grieving families of DC midair collision say more needs to be done to fix safety concerns one year after tragedy

On Jan. 29, 2025, American Airlines Flight 5342 was circling to land at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport when it collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter, sending both aircraft into the icy Potomac River. All 60 passengers and four crew members aboard the jet were killed, along with three soldiers in the helicopter, marking the deadliest U.S. aviation disaster in nearly 25 years. 

As the National Transportation Safety Board prepares to vote on the crash’s probable cause and safety recommendations, families say the anniversary is both a moment of remembrance and a test of momentum, whether the warnings exposed by the collision will finally force lasting reform or quietly fade.

The flight that changed everything

For Sheri and Tim Lilley, the year is