The Jan. 29 collision between a Black Hawk military helicopter and American Eagle Flight 5342, arriving from Wichita, Kansas, made an ordinary flight a tragedy. All 67 people in both aircraft died near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
We know this tragedy hit hard for many people. There were national and international skaters, a Kiowa couple and hunters who had traveled to the Sunflower State for some bird hunting among those whose lives prematurely ended.
U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, a long-time Republican lawmaker, told the media that the flight was one he took many times, whether to get back home or to return to Washington. Wichita is known as the “air capital of the world,” and every time there is an airplane accident it hits harder.
A unified Kansas delegation expressed their sympathies as Moran, Sen. Roger Marshall and U.S. Reps. Tracey Mann, Derek Schmidt, Sharice Davids and Ron Estes issued the following statement:
“Our prayers are with the families and friends of those affected by the tragic plane crash that occurred in our nation’s capital. South central Kansas is a close community, and it’s likely that many of us directly or indirectly know people who were on Flight 5342 on Jan. 29.
This is a sad day for Kansans and our nation, and this community, steeped in aviation and manufacturing history, will feel the pain of this catastrophe for years to come. We are grateful for the first responders and rescue crews who worked through the night. Our focus now is supporting the family and friends of those who perished, including the crew and military personnel, and then getting answers for the grieving individuals who have lost a loved one and making sure this doesn’t happen again.”
There will be much speculation and theories bandied about what caused the collision. We urge restraint, letting the investigators do their part and making sure proper channels, including congressional hearings, are followed.
What we do know is that67 people perished in a matter of moments, and grieving families will need our collective prayers and support.
When you come from the heartland, you learn quickly that prayer is a foundational piece for relief and eventual recovery.
It certainly did not seem fair that the tragedy would fall on Kansas Day, when schoolchildren earlier in the day had learned about how the Sunflower State became the nation’s 34th state on Jan. 29, 1861. They no doubt learned about the state’s role in the Civil War, women’s suffrage, Prohibition, wheat, livestock, President Dwight D. Eisenhower and the aircraft industry.
The state’s motto—ad astra per aspera—means “to the stars through hardships.” This terrible tragedy will become another chapter that we will grieve, and we must be strengthened by our collective belief in God, who reminds us that He is always there for us.
We hope that prayers of comfort will continue to flow to the grieving families.
Dave Bergmeier can be reached at 620-228-1822 or [email protected].
