Sykes Commemorates the First Anniversary of the Tragic Collision Between a Commercial Aircraft and Military Helicopter

Topeka, Kans. — Today we somberly mark the first anniversary of the tragic collision of Flight 5342 out of Eisenhower National Airport in Wichita with a military helicopter as it descended upon Washington, D.C. for landing. As we mark this tragedy, we must honor the 67 lives lost on the horrific day.

“The 67 people that lost their lives in this tragic collision were our neighbors, our loved ones, and our community leaders,” Kansas Senate Democratic Leader Dinah Sykes, D-Lenexa, said. ““As we mark the anniversary of their death, we must remember the sanctity of the time we have with our loved ones and continue to fight to ensure a tragedy such as this never occurs again.”

Immediately after the crash, Kansas communities came together to demand a full investigation and systemic changes to ensure this tragedy would never happen again. Earlier this week, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released the results of their yearlong investigation. The NTSB identified several systemwide failures that contributed to this unspeakable tragedy. 

“I appreciate the dedication of the NTSB in their investigation into this tragedy,” said Sykes. “I call on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to continue their work in addressing and solving the many issues identified in the NTSB’s report.”