Last Wednesday's accident involving American Airlines flight 5342 and an Army Blackhawk helicopter was a tragedy that Arlington and our country are all struggling to respond to. The families are foremost in our minds as there are not adequate words to describe their losses.
Arlington's first responders including Arlington's firefighters, police, and Department of Emergency Management staff have been leading our work with regional counterparts to respond. Arlington County Board Chair Takis Karantonis spoke on their work on Friday:
A short message from Chair Takis Karantonis regarding the accident.
Ryan O'Hara, one of the Army helicopter pilots was an Arlington resident, and a married 28-year-old with a one-year-old son. We can only imagine the heartbreak.
Dangerfield Island and Gravelly Point, and the adjacent Mount Vernon Trail, are closed for response efforts at the Potomac River – Please continue to avoid these areas and follow police direction.
Our Department of Environmental Services and other employees have been on the shores of the Potomac helping with recovery. We can imagine how important and difficult their work is.
If you have specific public safety or investigation information related to this tragedy, call 911.
Congressman Don Beyer shared his thoughts and described some of the crucial next steps here: Representative Don Beyer
Delegate Adele McClure spoke briefly last Thursday in Richmond on the tragedy:
Delegate Adele McClure represents the part of Arlington that is part of where the accident occurred and spoke to this in 2 minutes on Thursday night.
Hug your loved ones a little tighter. Take the time you need on this. Give, if you can, to the fund the community foundations across the region have established: Donate to DCA Together Relief Fund
