THE LIVES LOST
When American Airlines Flight 5342 from Wichita to Washington, D.C., collided with a Black Hawk helicopter, the news reverberated throughout the Wichita community — and around the world. During days of uncertainty, Wichitans wondered about the safety of loved ones. In this edition, we o er a moment to remember each of the 67 lives lost last week.
As of the evening of Wednesday, Feb. 5, all bodies have been recovered, but the identities of the final seven passengers remain unnamed.
What we know about Flight 5342
BY MALEAH EVANS & MIA HENNEN arts@thesunflower.com
& managing@thesunflower.com
On Jan. 29, American Airlines Flight 5342 — carrying 64 people, including four crew members and 60 passengers — collided with a Black Hawk helicopter with three Army personnel.
The flight was on track from Wichita to Washington, D.C. The direct route was established in July 2023.
“I know that flight, I’ve flown it many times myself,” Sen. Jerry Moran said in a press conference on the evening of Jan. 29. “I lobbied American Airlines to begin having a direct nonstop flight service to DCA. That flight has been in existence for about a year … this is a very personal circumstance as well as an official response.”
After the collision, the plane landed in pieces in the Potomac River. Emergency response teams were on the scene within half an hour.
There are no survivors. The situation is the deadliest American air disaster tragedy since 2001. As of Tuesday evening, all of the bodies have been recovered.
Among the victims were several from the figure skating community who traveled to Wichita for U.S. figure skating championships and a national Development Camp. While initial reports identified only a handful of skaters, ultimately, skaters made up nearly half the flight — 28 people from the skating community. Eleven were young skaters.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the cause of the collision. Staff have said they hope to have a preliminary report within the first 30 days of the crash.
The tragedy has grabbed hold of communities across the world — from figure skaters to local families and loved ones.
The day following the accident, a prayer vigil was held with Mayor Lily Wu and several religious leaders as well as a press conference. In the following days, several other vigils were held including one at the Wichita Ice Center.
COMMUNITY RESOURCES
Sedgwick County EMS and COMCARE, in partnership with the American Red Cross, are o ering resources to those impacted by the tragedy. Other entities around Wichita can o er support to those impacted by the tragedy in some way.
Friends University is also providing free therapy both over the phone and in person. People can find more information by visiting its website: friends.edu.
ICT Together, created by the Wichita Foundation, is a fundraiser created to provide aid to impacted families. Donations can be made on wichitafoundation.org.
The National Transportation Safety Board is o ering free assistance for families of the crash victims. To contact them, reach out via email to assistance@ntsb.gov or by phone at 202-314-6185.
of the
WEDNESDAY JAN. 29, 2025
5:38 p.m. (CST)
American Airlines Flight 5324 takes o from Wichita to Washington, D.C., carrying 60 passengers and four crew members. The plane was set to land at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
7:47 p.m. (CST)
An air tra ic controller at Reagan National Airport asks a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter if it can see the American Airlines flight. Air tra ic control instructs the helicopter to pass behind the plane. The helicopter was on a training flight.
Around 7:48 p.m. (CST)
Flight 5342, about 400 feet o the ground and traveling at 140 miles-per-hour, collides with the Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River.
Around 8 p.m. (CST)
A search and rescue launches.
Before midnight (CST)
Kansas Sens. Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall speaks at a press conference hours after the crash.
THURSDAY JAN. 30, 2025
Thursday morning
The National Transportation Safety Board begins gathering resources for the investigation.
Nearly 6 a.m. (CST)
Emergency operations switch to recovery operations, all passengers are thought to be dead.
Around 7 a.m. (CST)
O icials say 27 bodies were recovered from the plane and one from the helicopter.
8 a.m. (CST)
In Wichita, Mayor Lily Wu briefs the media and local community. Wu o ers preliminary information on the flight and situation.
10 a.m. (CST)
President Donald Trump addresses the nation, blaming the crash on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and past presidential administrations.
10 a.m. (CST)
Reagan National Airport reopens, with planes now arriving and departing.
12 p.m. (CST)
A prayer vigil is held at Wichita City Hall.
4 p.m. (CST)
Gov. Laura Kelly and Mayor Lily Wu hold a press conference in Wichita. O icials o ers updates on the crash as well as resources the community can utilize and contribute to.
In the evening
A memorial table at Eisenhower Airport is set up for people to pay tribute to victims and loved ones.
FRIDAY
JAN. 31, 2025
During the day
Two tables are added to Eisenhower Airport memorial. Flight 5342 is retired. ICT > DCA flight is now Flight 5677.
MONDAY FEB. 3, 2025
9:45 a.m. (CST)
A moment of silence is held at Butler County Community College for professor Lindsey Fields.
2:35 p.m. (CST)
A vigil is held at Wichita Ice Center, where figure skaters participated in training before the crash. Eleven youth skaters died.
In D.C., crews begin to lift the remains of the plane and helicopter in the final stages of the recovery mission.
TUESDAY FEB. 4 2025
In the evening
Remains of all victims are found according to emergency authorities. One victim has yet to be identified.
Notes of support and remembrance at the Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower Airport memorial. The memorial was visited by Wichitans as well as American Airlines
CEO Robert Isom, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, Wichita Mayor Lily Wu, and U.S. Rep. Ron Estes. | Photo by Peyton Eck / The Sunflower
Everly Livingston, 14, and Alydia Livingston, 11, before takeo on Flight 5342. The sisters were attending a figure skating training camp in Wichita. | Courtesy photo Spencer Lane, 16, posted a photo on his Instagram account before takeo . Spencer and his mother, Christine Lane, died in the crash. He was a member
Skating Club of Boston.
Courtesy photo
A woman cries and lifts her hands during a prayer given at the Jan. 30 vigil for Flight 5342 crash victims. | Photo by Allison Campbell / The Sunflower
The Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport set up a memorial for the people who died on American Airlines Flight 5342. | Photo by Peyton Eck / The Sunflower
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly at a press conference the afternoon after the crash. | Courtesy photo
Sen. Jerry Moran, speaks at a press conference after the crash. | Courtesy photo Taylre McPherson and Allison Jabara hug after the moment of silence at the Wichita Ice Center vigil. McPherson and Jabara are members of the Wichita Figure Skating Club. | Photo by Kristy Mace / The Sunflower
A memorial is set up at Lindsey Fields’ o ice door at Butler Community College’s Andover campus in the days after her death in the crash. | Photo by Garima Thapa / The Sunflower
Kiah Duggins’ lasting impact on Wichita State and beyond
“
BY AINSLEY SMYTH
news@thesunflower.com
When Kiah Duggins was an undergraduate student at Wichita State University, Bobby Gandu, who heads enrollment and admissions at WSU, said she pushed herself and those around her to be the best versions of themselves.
“She would challenge us here at Wichita State and ask us, ‘How can we be better? How can we better serve underrepresented students?’” Gandu said. “Or if she saw something that she didn’t agree with and she wanted to push for something better for her campus, colleagues and students, she didn’t hesitate.”
Duggins was among the 67 victims of the Flight 5342 plane crash last week in Washington, D.C. Duggins, a Wichita native and Wichita State alumna, was returning home to D.C. after visiting her family while her mother underwent surgery.
Wichita State staff and faculty remembered Duggins as an ambitious scholar, an advocate for her fellow students and a funny, uplifting person.
Gandu said he met Duggins when she was a student at Wichita East High School.
“She was really an incredible young talent as a high school senior who we knew had a real gift to go further,” Gandu said. “Kiah would walk in the room, and you knew that she was playing chess while the rest of us were playing checkers.”
After graduating with her undergraduate degree from Wichita State, Duggins went on to Harvard Law School. Post-graduation, she worked as a civil rights lawyer for the Civil Rights Corps.
Duggins entered Wichita State as a Barton scholar, a scholarship for business students that is
BY JACOB UNRUH sports@thesunflower.com
Lindsey Fields joined Butler Community College (BCC) as a professor of biology in 2014. Eleven years later, she was the chair of the biology department at BCC and the president elect of the National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT). Her rapid rise to prominence exemplifies what her coworkers and students described as a strong work ethic and innovative approach to education, a passion for biology, and most importantly, a kind heart that cared for everyone around her.
“She was so vibrant,” said Martha Sager, a professor of general biology at BCC. “She was a force of nature, in the best way to use that terminology.”
According to the NABT, Fields was traveling to Washington, D.C., on Jan. 29 “to represent the NABT community and advocate for excellence in life science education.” She booked American Airlines Flight 5342 to ensure she wouldn’t miss a single biology class.
She died when the flight collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter, leaving behind a void in the BCC and biology community that won’t be replaced.
Kiah
would walk in the room, and you knew that she was playing chess while the rest of us were playing checkers.”
BOBBY GANDU Associate VP for Strategic Enrollment Management, Applied Learning and Director of Admissions
awarded to one incoming student each year.
Dorothy Harpool, director of Engagement and Prominence and a senior educator at the Barton School of Business, said she was on the committee that awarded Kiah the scholarship.
“I remember her as a star,” Harpool said. “We always have amazing high school students, and so for somebody to stand out like she did, it says a lot about her personality and just her aura.”
After that, Harpool said Duggins got involved in everything she could: student government, community organizations and the local business community.
“There wasn’t an opportunity that she passed up,” Harpool said.
Duggins ran a mentorship program for underrepresented female high school students. She called it “The Princess Project.”
“(The project) was about helping them know that they can pursue and achieve their dreams if they continue on (with) being a good student and being active and engaged in our community, getting good grades and then going on to pursue college and scholarship opportunities,” Gandu said.
In a TEDx Talk she gave at Wichita State in 2017, Duggins explained that, as a child, she didn’t feel represented by most depictions of princesses. Later, she saw this
“Everyone’s heartbroken,” Sager said. “If you knew her, your heart’s broken, and it’s just a weight you can’t explain, and a measurable loss.”
Fields, who was 40 years old, is survived by her husband, Mark, and 3 year old daughter, Avery.
INSPIRING EDUCATOR
Fields’ passion for biology quickly inspired her students. Joseph LaForge arrived at Fields’ general biology class in 2016 as an English major who didn’t care much about science. He left, having changed his major to biology, inspired to go on and become a professor of biology at BCC — a position he holds today.
“Her teaching style was so engaging,” LaForge said. “She always gave time for the students to put in their input and also to work together in small groups. She just really knew how to work the room and keep everybody awake and active.”
LaForge said he appreciates Fields as an educator even more in hindsight. Whether it was conducting multiple choice reviews on whiteboards, connecting the material to real-world examples or making sure no one fell behind, Fields always found a way to keep her students engaged.
“When I was in her class, I was
BY ALLISON CAMPBELL editor@thesunflower.com
Grace Maxwell’s family was reunited on Jan. 28 at their Wichita church under sad circumstances — to mourn the loss of her grandfather, Charles Winter. The next day, the family was again struck by loss when the plane in which Maxwell was flying back to college collided with a helicopter as it prepared to land.
“The Cedarville University community is mourning the loss of Grace Maxwell, a junior whose kindness, faith and passion for serving others touched countless lives,” a statement from the university read.
Free Church. Lucas McGarity, a pastor with church, said his wife, Christy, had received so many texts and phone calls from those who want to help the Maxwell family that the messages had to be compiled on an Excel spreadsheet.
same lack of representation in her school’s gifted program, noting that students of color often didn’t have the same access to information and resources to prepare themselves for higher education.
Duggins said that The Princess Project provided mentorship and information to students heading to college.
“I’ve learned that when we do not see the metaphorical Black princesses in our lives, sometimes we just have to become them,” Duggins said in the TEDx Talk.
Her advocacy carried into other projects she worked on at Wichita State, including the establishment of the Shocker Food Locker — now the Shocker Support Locker — a place for WSU students, faculty and staff to get free groceries donated by the community.
“(It) wasn’t that long ago that it got started through the work of Kiah and many of her peers, but now it is an incredibly important resource for our current students,” Gandu said.
Duggins was also in the Student Ambassadors Society, helping recruit other students to Wichita State. Jessica Newman is an assistant educator at WSU’s Elliott School of Communication. She worked as an admissions representative when Duggins was in the society.
“All of those types of things (Duggins did) were less about her and more about her wanting to better the community around her,” Newman said. “She’s always seemed very grounded, even though she excelled in pageants, even though she went on to be this incredible civil rights attorney, she always seemed grounded, and I feel like she always had her core community at the heart of everything she did.”
On Sunday, members of the Maxwell family’s church prayed on behalf of the grieving household, who were away visiting the crash site in Washington, D.C. Lead Pastor Josh Black shared a message rooted in the family’s Evangelical faith: that Maxwell’s loss wasn’t a tragedy, but something to find gladness in alongside the pain of her death.
“In light of that day, there is reason to praise,” Black said during his Sunday sermon. “There’s reason to be sad, but there’s even greater reason to be glad … It is appropriate (to grieve), but as believers, we do not grieve as those without hope. If we die in Christ, we, even now, will be present with the Lord, as Grace Maxwell is.”
GRACE MAXWELL
Born and raised in Wichita, Kansas, Maxwell was a devout member of the First Evangelical Free Church where her father, Dean, is an operations director.
After graduating from high school, Maxwell enrolled at Cedarville University, an Evangelical college. According to a statement published by the university, the 20-year-old junior was studying mechanical engineering and was “deeply committed to using her skills to help others.”
Maxwell was one of 60 passengers and four crew members aboard Flight 5342, which flew out of Wichita on Jan. 29. Shortly before 9 p.m., the plane collided with an Black Hawk Army helicopter carrying three military personnel above the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. There were no survivors.
CHURCH’S SUPPORT
In the aftermath of the collision, there has been an outpour of support from members of the First Evangelical
never bored,” LaForge said. “She wanted the students to feel like they were her peers, rather than her students. And so she always came down to their level and brought them up, brought me up with her. She really wanted to see everybody succeed.”
When Anne Gillis was first hired as a physics professor at BCC, her office was a storage room. Gillis said she was “surviving” to get by in the small space. Fields noticed the situation and, unprompted, offered to move Gillis into an empty room.
“(Fields) made sure I got a key for it, looked after me,” Gillis said.
“It was marvelous. It was just so thoughtful. And she didn’t have to do that.”
Sager said Fields had the same level of enthusiasm for everyone, whether it was teaching students or inspiring faculty. She also had a smile that could “light up the world.”
“It was like it was in her DNA, right?” Sager said. “She just did it naturally … It wasn’t put on. It wasn’t, ‘Well, I have to do this because I have this position.’ No, that was just … her. I think she could have taught at any four-year college in the country and risen to the top.”
“You have answered by the dozens,” McGarity said to the friends and family gathered at the service.
‘BUT JOY COMES WITH THE MORNING’
It was fitting, McGarity said, that Psalm 30 would be read by Black at that day’s service.
In Psalm 30:9, David, the king of Israel, questions the benefit that can come from his death — Black said he and the Maxwell family wondered this themselves.
“It’s certainly the question on our mind this morning as we think of Grace. What gain is there in all of it?” Black asked. “This woman was in the prime of her life. The loss is very clear, is it not? But the gain seems far from clear.”
But, drawing connections to how David was delivered to God through death, Black said the same of Maxwell.
“The pain of death is nothing, my friends, compared to the glory of the resurrection,” Black said. “Our tears are temporary; God’s grace is eternal.”
Through the eyes of those connected to Christ, Black said there is an understanding that Maxwell’s death wasn’t a tragedy, at least not in the true sense of the word.
“This was not a tragedy for Grace Maxwell,” Black said. “Dare I say that her story is a comedy — not in the sense that we are made to laugh … but a comedy in the sense that this death, though tragic, is not the end of her story.
“A true tragedy has a tragic ending, but in a comedy, the tragic event in the middle of the story gives way to a surprising victory at the end. For Grace, her life on this Earth was tragically ended, but that’s not the end of her story … There is a happy ending. The chapter has already been written by God himself.”
CAMPUS REACTION, IMPACT
In the aftermath of Fields’ death, an impromptu memorial was set up at her office door in Andover. People left flowers, notes and seeds.
On Monday morning, a campus-wide moment of silence was held in her honor. Sager said a group handed out commemorative pins. So many students wanted one that they ran out and had to make more. An “Empower Future Scientists” scholarship was established in Fields’ honor. As of Wednesday evening, more than $42,000 had been raised for the scholarship’s GoFundMe.
LaForge said people on campus are “a lot more loving” than they were prior to the crash, knowing that every interaction could be their last. Seeing the memorials, he’s glad to know that Fields touched so many lives but sad that she can’t impact more people.
“I literally wouldn’t be sitting in the chair that I am without her,” LaForge said. “And if I would have taken a different class, or let’s say that I never met her, my whole life would be different. And there aren’t many people you can say in your life that you say, ‘Yeah, they distinguish my entire timeline.’”
Photo courtesy of Bobby Gandu
Photo courtesy of Cedarville University
Photo courtesy of Butler Community College
JONATHAN CAMPOS
Charlotte, North Carolina
Jonathan Campos was the pilot captain of Flight 5342. Campos earned his flight instructor certificate at Epic Flight Academy, which has multiple locations nationwide.
A Facebook post made by Epic Flight Academy said, “He was a skilled and dedicated pilot with an undeniable passion for flying. Our deepest condolences go out to Jonathan’s family, friends and all those who ... were impacted by this devastating tragedy.” Campos was 34 years old.
LUCIANO APARICIO
Fairfax, Virginia
Luciano Aparicio was the father of Franco Aparicio, the young figure skater who died in the Jan. 29 midair collision near Washington
D.C.’s Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Aparicio was 48 years old.
JAMES “TOMMY” CLAGETT
Charles County, Maryland
James “Tommy” Clagett was traveling with nine other hunters in Kansas; Clagett and six of the other waterfowl hunters boarded Flight 5342.
Clagett was a husband and a father to two girls. The family has set up a meal train and fundraiser to help support his family.
Clagett was 43 years old.
CASEY CRAFTON
Salem, Connecticut
A husband and father of three, Casey Crafton was aboard Flight 5342. According to Abi Leitao, a former work colleague, Crafton was a “remarkable father, husband, friend and colleague.”
Crafton was a local pastor, youth soccer coach and an active member of Salem’s recreation commission. Crafton also fundraised to battle SPG50, a rare, progressive neurological and neurodevelopmental disorder. Crafton was 40 years old.
JINNA HAN
Mansfield, Massachusetts
Jinna Han, who was among those who lost their life on Jan. 29, told NBC 10 WJAR in 2022 that she had hoped to one day compete in the Olympics. Han was one of the nation’s top figure skating prospects, returning home to Mansfield, Massachusetts, from the National Development Camp in Wichita at the time of the accident.
Han was 13 years old.
ALEXANDER HUFFMAN
La Plata, Maryland
Alexander Hu man was a married father of two and one of the seven men visiting Kansas for waterfowl hunting who perished on Flight 5342.
DANASIA ELDER
Charlotte, North Carolina
Danasia Elder was one of the flight attendants aboard the plane. Elder was a loving mother, wife and friend.
“She was a great wife, a great parent, a great friend,” Brandon Payne, Elder’s brotherin-law, said in a People article. “She was very bright, very smart.” Elder was 34 years old.
SARAH LEE BEST
Washington, D.C.
University of Pennsylvania Law School
graduate Sarah Lee Best was an associate of Wilkinson Steklo law firm in Washington, D.C.
“She was always looking for ways to help others, to serve her community, and to live a life of purpose,” said Felicia Lin, Vice Dean for Student Services and Dean of Students on the college’s website. “This is an unimaginable loss, but we are all better for having known Sarah.” Best was 33 years old.
IAN EPSTEIN
Charlotte, North Carolina
Ian Epstein was a flight attendant on Flight 5342.
A report by The Charlotte Observer said Epstein wanted to put passengers at ease during flights and often made entertaining in-flight announcements.
Epstein shared two children with his former wife, Debi Epstein, who announced his death on social media. Epstein was 53 years old.
BRIELLE BEYER
Loudoun County, Virginia
Brielle Beyer was among the figure skaters who died on Flight 5342.
Beyer was heading home after participating in the National Development Camp in Wichita.
In an interview with ABC News, Andy Beyer, Brielle’s father, said she survived cancer at the age of four.
“She just lived life to the fullest with everything,” Andy said to ABC News. Beyer was 12 years old.
SAMUEL LILLEY
Charlotte, North Carolina
First O icer Samuel Lilley followed in his father’s footsteps, pursuing a career in aviation.
“I was so proud when Sam became a pilot,” his father, Timothy Lilley, wrote on Facebook. “Now it hurts so bad I can’t even cry myself to sleep. I know I’ll see him again but my heart is breaking.” The Charlotte-based pilot was engaged to be married in the fall. Lilley was 28 years old.
JUSTYNA MAGDALENA BEYER
Loudoun County, Virginia
The mother of Brielle Beyer, Justyna Magdalena Beyer was aboard the plane with her daughter.
According to a Facebook post from Little Poland, New Britain, Connecticut, Justyna graduated from Western Connecticut State University with a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Beyer was 42 years old.
Remembering the 67 lives lost
On Jan. 29 at approximately 7:48 p.m. CST, American Airlines Flight 5342 collided with an Army helicopter. The 60 passengers, four flight crew members and three soldiers were pronounced dead.
PETE “PJ” DIAZ
Here is what The Sunflower has gathered on the victims so far.
KIAH DUGGINS
Wichita, Kansas
Wichita, Kansas
Pete Diaz was known for going on multiple cruises a year and had been planning another for later this year.
“My heart is broken and reaching out for prayers for me and my family,” his mother, Linda Diaz, said in a GoFundMe that was set up to help the family. “My son PJ was on the flight to DC that crashed. Please pray God gives us strength to get through this devastating time. I love you PJ and always will.” Diaz was 30 years old.
JIN HEE HAN
Mansfield, Massachusetts
Jin Han Han, the mother of Jinna Han, was flying home with her daughter when the two aircraft collided.
CEO and executive director of the Skating Club of Boston Doug Zeghibe said in an article that Jin was “wonderful, pleasant, polite, smiling, just (a) fantastic member” and that she never had “a discouraging word.” Han was 49 years old.
A GoFundMe on behalf of the Hu man family — wife Kayla, and children Rowen and Hadley — said, “Alex was the love of Kayla’s life, an amazing father to Rowen and Hadley, and a best friend to many. His laugh was contagious, and he was always there if you needed him.“ Hu man was 34 years old.
ALEXANDR “SASHA” KIRSANOV
Greater Delaware Area
Youth skating coach Alexandr Kirsanov died in the Jan. 29 collision.
Kirsanov was in Wichita to help coach figure skaters Sean Kay and Angela Yang, who also died in the accident.
“I lost everything,” Natalya Gudin, Kirsanov’s wife, said to ABC News. “I lost my husband. I lost my students. I lost my friends.” Kirsanov was 46 years old.
FRANCO APARICIO
Fairfax, Virginia
Franco Aparicio, a teenage boy and a figure skater returning from the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, died when Flight 5342 collided with an Army helicopter near the nation’s capital. Aparicio was 14 years old.
JONATHAN BOYD
Charles County, Maryland
A children’s hockey coach, James Boyd spent hours on the ice training a team that his young son was on. Boyd was one of seven hunters on Flight 5342.
A GoFundMe has been set up to help support 11-year-old Reed Boyd’s education and future in hockey. Boyd was 40 years old.
CHRIS COLLINS
Stamford, Connecticut
Chris Collins was traveling with colleague Melissa Nicandri on Flight 5342.
Collins was described by his family as “a true adventurer with a passion for the outdoors and a lifelong love of animals.” He regularly volunteered at Lucky Dog Refuge in Stamford, Connecticut. Collins was 42 years old.
BRIAN ELLIS
Charlottesville, Virginia
LINDSEY FIELDS
Wichita, Kansas
STEVE JOHNSON
Waldorf, Maryland
Steve Johnson was one of seven passengers returning from a hunting trip in Kansas who died in the Jan. 29 collision. Johnson was an avid hunter and fisherman and was a member of the Union Association of Steamfitters Local 602. A Facebook post by Micky Fins Bar & Grill in Ocean City, Maryland, said, “Steve’s passion for fishing and his kindness touched so many of us and his absence will be deeply felt.” Johnson was 45 years old.
SPENCER LANE
Barrington, Rhode Island
CORY HAYNOS
Fairfax, Virginia
A Wichita State graduate, Kiah Duggins was a law professor at Howard University. Previously, Duggins was a former Miss Butler County pageant winner and attorney for the Civil Rights Corps. According to a Wichita State press release Duggins was, “we hope her legacy continues to inspire our students, serving as a reminder of what is possible through determination, passion and purpose.” Duggins was 30 years old.
Cory Haynos was one of the many figure skaters aboard Flight 5342. From Fairfax, Virginia, Haynos was a member of the Skating Club of Northern Virginia. A Facebook post from the account The Skating Lesson described Haynos as “a powerful skater who dreamed of making it to Nationals as a competitor. He followed his sister onto the ice and was coached by Kalle Strid and Mikael Olofsson.” Haynos was 16 years old.
ILYA “SEAN” KAY
Greater Delaware Area
Described as “one of the best” by friends and family, according to a USA Today article, Brian Ellis was traveling for business when he perished in the Flight 5342 crash on Jan. 29. Ellis was a retired Marine and helicopter pilot. He managed messaging for the Commandant of the Marine Corp. He is survived by his wife, Amy, and two sons. Ellis was 53 years old.
ROGER HAYNOS
Fairfax, Virginia
Roger Haynos, the father of Cory Haynos, was aboard the plane with his son when it collided with an Army helicopter on the evening of Jan. 29.
Matthew Alan LaRaviere, Roger’s first cousin, said in a Facebook post, “Roger’s life impressed me greatly. I will miss Roger’s texts to me. Mostly (humorous). Those texts often reminded me not to take life too serious.” Haynos was 56 years old.
YULIA KAY
Greater Delaware Area
Ilya “Sean” Kay was traveling home with his figure skating partner, Angela Yang, and coach, Alexandr Kirsanov, on Jan. 29, when Flight 5342 collided with an Army helicopter leaving all victims dead. Along with Yang, Kay was a member of the University of Delaware Skating Club and participated in the National Development Camp in Wichita just days before. Kay was 11 years old.
CHRISTINE CONRAD LANE
Barrington, Rhode Island
Yulia Kay was Sean’s mother traveling with him to Wichita for the National Development Camp. Kay was 42 years old.
ALYDIA LIVINGSTON
Ashburn, Virginia
Spencer Lane said qualifying for the National Development Camp was an “amazing experience” in an Instagram post on Jan. 29. Lane was one of 14 figure skaters and coaches who died in the Flight 5342 crash later that evening. CEO of the Skating Club of Boston Doug Zeghibe said in an interview with WPRI 12 News that Lane was “rocketing to the top of the sport.” Lane was 16 years old.
Christine Conrad Lane was Spencer Lane’s mother and accompanied him to the 2025 U.S. Figure Skating Championships and the subsequent National Development Camp. Christine and her husband, Douglas, adopted Spencer and his younger brother. In a statement to WPRI 12 News, he said Christine brought “passion to her role as a mother to Spencer and his brother Milo.” Lane was 49 years old.
Alydia Livingston was a figure skater returning home after her time in Wichita when Flight 5342 collided with an Army helicopter. She aspired to represent Team USA in figure skating and was a member of the Washington Figure Skating Club. Livingston was 11 years old.
Fairfax, Virginia
Lindsey Fields was a biology teacher at the Butler Community College (BCC) location in Andover, Kansas. Fields was traveling to D.C. to represent the National Association of Biology Teachers, where she was the president-elect. “She was traveling to represent the NABT community and advocate for excellence in life science education,” BCC said in a statement. Fields was 40 years old.
Stephanie Branton Haynos, the wife of Roger and mother of Cory Haynos, was with them aboard Flight 5342 when it went down above the Potomac River. Benjamin Reddin said in a Facebook post that the death of the Haynos family is “such a tragic loss of life. I’m truly without words right now.” Haynos was 56 years old.
ELIZABETH
Washington, D.C.
It was Elizabeth Keys’ birthday when American Airlines Flight 5342 crashed above the Potomac River. Keys was flying home with her Wilkinson Steklo colleague Sarah Lee Best. They were described as “wonderful attorneys, colleagues, and friends” by company founder Beth Wilkinson, according to the Kansas City Star.
“It is hard to imagine the firm without them,” she said. Keys was 33 years old.
EVERLY LIVINGSTON
Ashburn, Virginia
Everly Livingston was with her sister and parents when the aircraft collided above the Potomac River. Like her sister, Everly was a member of the Washington Figure Skating Club and also wanted to represent Team USA. Livingston was 14 years old.
“LIZ” KEYS
STEPHANIE BRANTON HAYNOS
DONNA LIVINGSTON
Ashburn, Virginia
Aboard the plane with her daughters, Everly and Alydia, Donna Livingston died on Jan. 29. Livingston was 48 years old.
DUSTIN MILLER
El Dorado, Kansas
Dustin Miller was traveling from Wichita to Washington, D.C., on his way to Rochester, New York, for work and was among the victims of the Flight 5342 crash.
The El Dorado resident was a Kansas City Chiefs fan who was looking forward to Super Bowl LIX, according to KWCH. Miller was 44 years old.
JESSE PITCHER
Lusby, Maryland
Jesse Pitcher was one of seven men who were traveling back home from a hunting trip in Kansas and died in the collision.
According to The Wichita Eagle, Pitcher owned a plumbing company near Lusby, Maryland, which his family said was becoming successful. He was the eldest of three siblings. Pitcher was 30 years old.
WENDY JO SHAFFER
Charlotte, North Carolina
PETER LIVINGSTON
Ashburn, Virginia
Peter Livingston was the father of Everly and Alydia.
Peter was aboard with his daughters and wife, Donna, when Flight 5342 collided on Jan. 29. Livingston was 48 years old.
VADIM NAUMOV
St. Petersburg, Russia
Vadim Naumov and his wife, Yevgenia Shishkova, were leaving the U.S. national championships in Wichita and were confirmed to be on Flight 5342.
Naumov and Shishkova won a world championship title in pairs skating in 1994 and had been coaching for more than 20 years.
The couple stayed in Wichita to coach at a National Development Camp.
Naumov was 55 years old.
ROBERT PREWITT
Lusby, Maryland
Robert Prewitt was returning from a work trip in Kansas at the time of the collision.
Prewitt leaves behind a daughter as well as two stepsons.
According to the Kansas City Star, Prewitt was the superintendent of a construction company that has office locations in Lenexa, Kansas. Prewitt was 44 years old.
MALABED JR.
PERGENTINO
Philippines
Malabed was a Filipino police colonel, flying from Wichita to D.C. on official travel.
“On behalf of the other members of the Malabed family,” his wife Rio Alanis TaganasMalabed said in a Facebook post. “I extend my gratitude to all for coming our way during this difficult time. I further ask for your understanding in quietly observing our moments as we prepare to bring my husband back home.”
Malabed was 51 years old.
EVGENIA SHISHKOVA
St. Petersburg, Russia
Two-time Olympian and skating world champion Yevgenia Shishkova died in the Flight 5342 crash.
Shishkova and Vadmin were in Wichita for their son, Maxim Naurnov, as he competed in the U.S. national championships. Their son was not on the same plane.
The Russian couple also coached other young skaters at the Skating Club of Boston.
Shishkova was 52 years old.
ASRA HUSSAIN RAZA
Washington D.C.
Asra Hussain Raza traveled to Wichita twice a month as a consultant for a local hospital project.
“I show up to the airport, and my wife’s not responding, and I look on Twitter and I see that it’s her flight,” Hamaad Raza said in an NBC Washington interview. “... She (was the kind of person who) went above and beyond and then took a giant leap over that when it came to doing things for other people.”
Raza was 26 years old.
MICHAEL “MIKEY” STOVALL
Port Tobacco, Maryland
OLIVIA TER
Alexandria, Virginia
GRACE MAXWELL
Wichita, Kansas
Grace Maxwell was a biomedical engineering student at Cedarville University. From Wichita, Maxwell was traveling back to her college in Ohio after her grandfather’s funeral.
Rich Stratton, Cedarville University’s assistant director of Public Relations said in a university statement that she was “a junior whose kindness, faith and passion for serving others touched countless lives.” Maxwell was 20 years old.
MELISSA JANE NICANDRI
Brooklyn Heights, New York City
Melissa Jane Nicandri was a passenger on the plane during the collision.
Nicandri was returning home after attending a work trip in Kansas.
Mayor Eric Adams said on X (formerly known as Twitter), “My heart and prayers go out to her loved ones,” confirming Nicandri’s death. Nicandri was 28 years old.
ROBERT “BOB” SCHROCK Kiowa, Kansas
Robert “Bob” Schrock was a passenger on Flight 5342.
Schrock was visiting his daughter, Ellie, who attends Villanova University.
According to the Kansas City Star, Schrock was the president of Premium Grain Inc. and was one of the first farmers around Barber County to switch from winter wheat to winter canola to improve crop yield and the soil’s health. Schrock was 58 years old.
OLESYA TAYLOR
Alexandria, Virginia
Port Republic, Maryland
A father of four, Charles “Charlie” McDaniel was one of seven hunters who died in the Flight 5342 crash on Jan. 29.
According to the Wichita Eagle, McDaniel was married for 15 years and was a member of the United Association of Union Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 602 in Maryland. McDaniel was 44 years old.
VIKESH PATEL
Greater Cincinnati, Ohio
Vikesh Patel was a GE Aerospace employee who was recently married. Patel was in Cowley County doing business at one of GE Aerospace’s plants, according to KAKE. Patel was 33.
LORI SCHROCK
Kiowa, Kansas
The wife of Robert “Bob” Schrock, Lori Schrock, was also aboard Flight 5342.
Schrock was the vice president of Premium Grain Inc., alongside her husband, who was president. Grace Cantrell, a family friend of the Shrocks, said to NBC News that their death “doesn’t feel real. It’s like, that kind of stuff doesn’t happen.” Schrock was 56 years old.
INNA VOLYANSKAYA
Ashburn, Virginia
Returning home from a business trip, Wendy Jo Shaffer was one of the victims of the crash. Shaffer was a wife and mother of two. Friends of the Shaffer family have started a GoFundMe and wrote, “Her love, kindness, and unwavering spirit touched everyone who knew her, and her absence leaves a void that can never be filled.” Shaffer was 35 years old.
ANGELA YANG
Greater Delaware Area
Michael Stovall was among the seven hunters returning from a trip to Kansas in the Jan. 29 collision.
Stovall leaves behind a wife and son and was a member of the UA Steamfitters Local 602.
According to The Wichita Eagle, “Michael ‘Mikey’ Stovall was all things outdoors: from snowboarding to finding deer antler sheds to surfing and finding shark teeth on the beach.
Stovall was 40 years old.
ZHEHENG “LILY” LI
Greater Delaware Area
Olivia Ter was one of the skaters competing in the U.S. Figure Skating Championships on board Flight 5342.
Ter was a member of the Tucker Road Ice Rink.
Prince George’s County said in a statement that Ter, “Inspired others through her talent, determination and sportsmanship. Her passion for the sport and positive influence on her peers and coaches will not be forgotten.”
Ter was 12 years old.
EDWARD ZHOU
Fairfax County, Virginia
Olesya Taylor was the mother of Olivia Ter, a 12-year-old figure skater who died in the Jan. 29 collision. Olesya was on board with Olivia returning home to Alexandria, Virginia.
An article from the Kansas City Star said she “poured herself into her children.” Olesya was 50 years old.
KAIYAN MAO
Fairfax County, Virginia
Volyanskaya was a coach with the Washington Figure Skating Club, according to its website. Rachelle Chase Piro, the mother of Volyanskaya’s student, Sienna Piro, remembers dropping her off, and wishing her a safe flight. “When she got out of the car, I just hugged her and said, ‘Have a safe flight,’” Piro said in an interview with the Independent. “It was the last time I’ll ever get to hug her.” Volyanskaya was 59.
YU “JOE” ZHOU
Fairfax County, Virginia
Angela Yang was one of the figure skaters returning home from the National Development Camp in Wichita and was on board Flight 5342 at the time of the collision. Yang was a member of the University of Delaware Figuring Skating Club, traveling with her skating partner, Sean Kay, and coach, Alexandr Kirsanov. Yang was 11 years old.
ANDREW EAVES
Fort Belvoir, Virginia
Chief Warrant Officer
2 Andrews Eaves was one of the three crew members aboard the Black Hawk helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
Eaves was from a small town in Mississippi and was married with two school-aged children. Eaves was 39 years old.
Li was Angela’s mother who was traveling with her to the National Development Camp in Wichita.
According to a GoFundMe campaign organized for Angela’s family, Li was a devoted mother who raised them largely on her own in the U.S. while her husband worked overseas, supporting her children’s academic and athletic pursuits with unwavering commitment. Li was 50 years old.
REBECCA LOBACH
Fort Belvoir, Virginia
Capt. Rebecca Lobach was one of the three members on the Black Hawk helicopter at the time of the collision.
Lobach’s family said in a statement that, “Rebecca was many things. She was a daughter, sister, partner, and friend. She was a servant, a caregiver, an advocate. Most of all, she loved and was loved.” Lobach was 28 years old.
Edward Zhou and his parents died in the Jan. 29 collision above the Potomac River.
“Edward Zhou … was tiny when he first learned how to skate, but he was fearless and unafraid of trying anything new,” The Skating Lesson posted on Facebook. “It has been said that his coaches loved coaching him because he always smiled and laughed every time he fell.” Zhou was 16 years old.
RYAN O’HARA
Fort Belvoir, Virginia
Staff Sgt. Ryan O’Hara was one of the soldiers in the Black Hawk helicopter. Most recently stationed at Fort Belvoir in Virginia, O’Hara served in Afghanistan, according to the Army.
O’Hara was 28 years old.
MITRE Corporation employee and Chinese immigrant Kaiyan Mao died alongside her son, Edward Zhou, and husband, Yu Zhou, in the Jan. 29 American Airlines crash.
Edward’s coach, Kalle Strid, said in an interview with The New York Times that Mao and Yu “were always there” for their son.
Mao was 52 years old.
As of the evening of Wednesday, Feb. 5, all bodies have been recovered but seven victims remain unnamed. The Sunflower gathered information about the victims from various news outlets, including KWCH, The Wichita Eagle, The New York
Yu Zhou came to the United States with his wife, Kaiyan Mao, in the early 2000s to get graduate degrees. A few years later, the couple was blessed with a son, Edward, who would go on to pursue professional figure skating.
The family was in Wichita for the 2025 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships and National Development Camp. Zhou was 60 years old.
CHARLES “CHARLIE” MCDANIEL
Times, ABC and KMUW.
‘KIND OF OUR BABIES’
Figure skating community left devastated by Flight 5342 crash
BY ALLISON CAMPBELL editor@thesunflower.com
Samantha Wells, the skating director of the Wichita Ice Center, said the energy and excitement ahead of the 2025 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships and the ensuing National Development Camp was like nothing she had ever seen in her 25-plus years at the skating facility.
“It was a big thing for Wichita. We’ve been working on this since March, getting it ready and getting our facility ready,” Wells said. “We were really looking forward to it and excited about the whole thing.”
The Prevagen Championships and training camp, hosted last week, went off without a hitch — more than 150 “hand-selected individuals, elite athletes or elite up-and-coming athletes,” according to Wells, participated in the U.S. Figure Skating-sponsored event.
The excitement quickly drew to an end when, on Jan. 29, an American Airlines plane carrying more than 20 of the development camp’s figure skaters, their parents, and coaches collided with an Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. Officials say there were no survivors.
PREVAGEN CHAMPIONSHIPS
Coordinated by Visit Wichita, Sedgwick County and Wichita’s designated marketing organization, and U.S. Figure Skating, the 2025 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships is a “crucial factor” in determining Team USA qualifiers for the upcoming World Championships. More than 180 athletes traveled to Wichita for the skating showcase and competitions. Skaters from across the country participated in the event’s junior, pairs, men and women categories hosted from Jan. 20-26.
According to the Kansas City Star, 28 people who attended the Championships with ties to ice skating and coaching — including 11 skaters who attended the camp — were aboard Flight 5342.
DEVELOPMENT CAMP
Wells said she had the opportunity to meet many of the youth skaters, their families and coaches during the Prevagen Championships.
“I watched them. You know, I went to the championships … and where we were seated was right next to all the camp kids,” Wells said. “And, you know, just watching their faces light up every time a new skater took the ice — it was really fun. And then we got to
spend those three days with them (at the development camp) and watch them excel with, you know, all the things, and watch them get excited.”
During the development camp, Wells was in charge of “Squad One” — a group of about 20 ice skating students. They spent three days working with high-performance coaches and attending different classes. Wells said that, as far as she knows, none of the skaters, families or coaches in her squad were involved in the crash. However, her squad did blend some classes with “Squad Two,” which saw numerous casualties in the crash.
But Wells said she, as well as many of the other coaches and training staff, adopted a caregiverlike role for the kids during the two 14-hour training days and half-day on Wednesday.
“They were kind of our babies for three days,” Wells said. “And we made sure they ate and needed to be where they were supposed to be.”
At the conclusion of the training camp on Wednesday, Wells and the other coaches waved the kids off, excited to see how they would apply their newfound knowledge and training to their future skating careers.
On Thursday morning, Wells woke up to the news of the crash.
“We were all devastated,” Wells said. “It’s absolutely heartbreaking.”
Wells, who fell sick with influenza shortly after the crash, returned to work for the first time since the crash on Friday. She said the attitude at the ice center was drastically different than it was when she left on Wednesday.
“It was just hard. It was just as soon as you walked in, it was silent and it was just a sad aura,” Wells said. “And I mean, (it’s) still kind of that way.”
The Wichita Figure Skating Club held a memorial vigil and a moment of silence for the plane crash victims on Monday. New signs at the Wichita Ice Center facility with photos of some of the crash victims adorned the rink as affected Wichitans congregated with candles.
While the skating community will continue mourning for many days and months to come, Wells said they’ll find a way to push past the pain for the benefit of future skaters.
“We’ll never forget this day, that’s for sure,” Wells said. “But … figure skating will move on … we all have to keep going. We’ve got kids that are still here (and) that need us.”
Individuals held plastic candle lights at the Feb. 3 vigil at the Wichita Ice Center. The vigil o ered five minutes of silence for those lost on Flight 5342. | Photos by Kristy Mace / The Sunflower
Wichita Mayor Lily Wu stands during the vigil at the Wichita Ice Center on Feb. 3.
Jemelle Holopirek hugs Mayor Lily Wu at the vigil hosted at the Wichita Ice Center on Feb. 3. Lights dimmed and the community stood in silence for five minutes.
Taylre McPherson and Allison Jabara hold a sign at the Wichita Figure Skating Club vigil. McPherson and Jabara are members of the Wichita Figure Skating Club.
People stand in a circle during the vigil hosted at the Wichita Ice Center on Feb. 3.
I. we stand on the shoulders of many divine beings who walked among us spoke our language laughed their particular laugh with peculiar joy who offered us gifts not even time could wipe from memory
II.
there is no song we could sing that could stop the days from melting into the coming night
but we can keep our hands busy we can commit to pursuing a world that is not yet within reach but is there hanging plush center in the black of our closed eyes
III.
all the world’s justice is housed in the bodies of the downtrodden who dream big dreams who imagine a different world who find the words that shoot straight into the mouth of the heart
IV. we don’t always acknowledge the work of the divine but history keeps a good record and what are we if not children of the first dreamers? who taught us the meaning of a life well-lived and who demand that we leave this world a little less cruel more free for someone else
Trump’s reaction to 5342 plane crash was a shameful politicization of tragedy
In times of crisis, a leader’s response defines their character. The tragic midair collision between Flight 5342 and an Army Black Hawk helicopter should have been met with gravity and unity.
Instead, President Donald Trump turned it into yet another opportunity for political grandstanding, launching baseless attacks on diversity hiring — all while families still had no confirmation of whether their loved ones were alive or dead.
Many were distraught, desperately waiting for updates, yet Trump wasted no time making reckless accusations instead of offering compassion or support.
Families and friends are grieving 67 lives lost. Investigators are working hard to determine the cause of the crash. Yet, rather than focusing on facts or offering
meaningful support, Trump deflected blame onto diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and Democrats — all without a shred of evidence. And let’s not forget: this just hours after the world learned of the crash.
This moment called for empathy, comfort and reassurance. This was not the time for self-serving rhetoric. Instead, as per usual, Trump prioritized his own narrative over the truth and needs of his people.
This is not leadership; it is exploitation at its worst.
His comments not only diminish the tragedy of the situation but also undermine trust in those dedicated to ensuring a thorough investigation of aviation safety.
Speculating about the cause of the crash before investigators have reached a conclusion is reckless, and his acknowledgement of the tragedy was hardly comforting.
The day after the collision, Trump was asked if he would visit the crash site. His response was
embarrassing.
“I have a plan to visit, not the site because — you tell me, what’s the site? The water?” Trump told reporters at the White House. “You want me to go swimming?”
This was a time for leadership, not for disgusting remarks that only added to the pain of those mourning.
This was a time for seriousness and action, not tasteless humor at the expense of the grieving. The families deserved a leader who would address their pain and provide reassurance, not someone who used their suffering for their own agenda.
Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance defended Trump’s unfounded claim that diversity, equity and inclusion hiring practices within the Federal Aviation Administration were somehow linked to the crash. Such baseless assertion shifts attention away from the real issues at hand, fuels unnecessary division and is not considerate to people who lost loved ones.
America deserves better from its leaders.
Submitted by Clarence Carvel Wichita State University alum
Mikrokosmos editor
A poem for Kiah Duggins STAFF
Flight 5342 reminds Wichita of a familiar grief — and even more familiar resilience
After American Airlines Flight 5342 from Wichita collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter as it reached Washington, D.C., the city of Wichita took a collective breath and waited to hear who was on board.
We knew the flight carried 60 passengers, and as authorities searched the water of the Potomac River a thousand miles away, Wichitans waited anxiously for more information.
Sixty passengers, four crew members and three military personnel on board the two aircraft were killed that night, including several young ice skaters who had trained at an elite camp here early in the week.
In Wichita, known as the Air Capital of the World, and here at Wichita State, people are familiar with this feeling of uncertainty and dread.
More than 54 years ago, Wichita State suffered a tragedy that would forever shape its history.
On Oct. 2, 1970, a plane carrying WSU football players, staff and administrators crashed into the mountains of Colorado.
Thirty-one lives were lost.
Memorial ‘70 displayed at Wichita State serves as a solemn reminder of that sorrow, but it also reminds us of the community’s strength and resilience despite disaster. Every year, people gather to remember the lives lost and the history of Wichita State.
Now, the city is connected to another heartbreaking loss. And at Wichita State, we have again lost one of our own.
Kiah Duggins, an alumna of Wichita State, was one of those victims. Many remember Duggins as a beacon of optimism, not only in Wichita but wherever she went. Duggins left her mark on Wichita State through her advocacy for her fellow students, including starting a food pantry, the Shocker Support Locker, and through the memories of her former classmates, teachers and mentors.
The weight of each life lost, though, cannot be understated.
When The Sunflower’s editors mobilized the day following the accident to document the community’s response, we were met with kind words of support from grieving Wichitans, despite the anguish and pain the community’s enduring.
We were also met by the friendly faces of former Sunflower reporters and editors. Generations of staffers shared press conference rooms, information and advice — much as they likely did in 1970.
As we rely on each other to uplift our spirits, we hope that the rest of the Wichita community can do the same.
Our hearts go out to the people around the world impacted by this tragedy. We grieve for the skating community who our city embraced for the U.S. Figure Skating Championships and for the elite youth skating camp that accompanied it. And we remind everyone that through these difficulties, we have the opportunity to come together as a community to lift others.
Illustration by Wren Johnson / The Sunflower
Photo courtesy of White House livestream
‘A HORRIBLE TRAGEDY’
Wichita community gathers to mourn Flight 5342 victims
BY ALLISON CAMPBELL
EVANS
& MALEAH
editor@thesunflower.com & arts@thesunflower.com
Religious leaders from across the state gathered on the afternoon of Thursday, Jan. 30, to mourn and share a message of unity during a vigil for those who died in the Wednesday, Jan. 29, plane crash.
Late Wednesday evening, American Airlines Flight 5342 from Wichita to Washington D.C.’s Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport was struck by a Black Hawk Army helicopter.
The passenger plane was carrying 64 people — 60 passengers and four crew members. The helicopter was carrying three Army personnel.
There were no survivors.
Wichita Mayor Lily Wu and city council members held a prayer vigil in City Hall on Thursday for community members to come together and grieve.
Ryan Baty, who serves as the county commissioner for the 4th District, said that during times of tragedy, there is value in gathering and fellowship, especially when words fail.
“There’s pain, and that’s what tragedy does,” Baty said. “Tragedy also reveals things about a community, and what I’m hoping is that when the world looks to Wichita, what they see is a community that rallies — even in the midst of pain and tragedy.”
HUMANITY COMES TOGETHER
Religious leaders from various denominations gathered for the vigil, each offering their own prayer for the lives lost.
Rabbi Shmulik Greenberg of Chabad of Wichita recited a traditional Hebrew prayer of mourning during the vigil. He said it’s essential for the community to come together.
“It wasn’t just Wichitans, it wasn’t just Americans, it was really international,” Greenberg said. “It shows us how fragile life is and how important it is for us as humanity to come together, not just in times of tragedy.”
Bill Evans, an associate pastor with Park City Baptist Church, echoed the statement. He said he was surprised to see such a large, diverse group of religious representatives come together.
“I wanted to actually see how many leaders actually stepped up, too,” Evans said. “And I was actually very happy and a little bit surprised too as (to) how many actually showed up.”
Rhonda Kingwood, a pastor at Heart of Christ Methodist Church, plans to hold another vigil on Feb. 13, with the Greater Wichita Ministerial League.
“My thoughts and prayers are with all the families during this time of loss, because there are no words, you don’t even know how to connect with people in things like this,” Kingwood said. “I think it’s a horrible tragedy, and it’s something that’s unimaginable that you just hear, but you don’t think it’s going to happen.”
Pamela Hughes Mason calls attendees of the Jan. 30 plane crash vigil to prayer. Members of the Wichita community, as well as local religious leaders, shared prayers during the community gathering. | Photo by Allison Campbell / The Sunflower
Photo by Allison Campbell / The Sunflower
A bouquet of roses and a teddy bear sit outside of City Hall during the Jan. 30 vigil held for Flight 5342. | Photo by Allison Campbell / The Sunflower
Wichita Mayor Lily Wu speaks to the Wichita crowd during prayer vigil. The vigil was held on Thursday, Jan. 30, to mourn victims of Flight 5342. Religious leaders from across the state
mourn
the vigil for those who died in Wednesday’s plane crash. | Photo by Maleah Evans/ The Sunflower Wichita community members listen to various religious leaders speak at a prayer vigil. The vigil was on Thursday, Jan. 30, and was held to mourn those who lost their lives in the crash of Flight 5342 on Wednesday,
Mayor Lily Wu embraces a vigil attendee after the prayer service held on Jan. 30 for Flight 5342 crash victims. | Photo by Allison Campbell / The Sunflower
Members of the Wichita community fill City Hall for a vigil held in memory