All 60 passengers and four crew members on board perished, along with three soldiers in the helicopter.
On January 29, Andy Beyer sat in the parking lot outside Reagan National Airport, eagerly texting his wife, Justyna, who was aboard American Airlines Flight 5342 with their daughter, Brielle—a 12-year-old cancer survivor and competitive figure skater.
But instead of reuniting with the two people he cherished most, he watched in horror as fire trucks sped past, unaware that he had just lost his “soulmate” and “princess” in a devastating midair collision that claimed 67 lives.
Brielle and Justyna were flying home to Northern Virginia from Kansas, where they had spent six days at an elite figure skating training camp in Wichita. The young skater was among the nation’s top competitors in her age group, despite lingering nerve challenges in her legs caused by neuroblastoma, a rare cancer she had battled as a baby.
“Six days was the longest we had ever been apart. It was hard—I really missed them,” Beyer told NBC. “I was really looking forward to giving them a hug.”
A Fighter and a Champion
Brielle’s journey was one of resilience. Diagnosed as an infant with neuroblastoma, she endured multiple surgeries and time on a ventilator. While she had recovered, she still faced physical challenges—but that didn’t stop her from excelling in figure skating.
“This sport can be a grind, and it’s so important to find those moments of pure joy,” said Beyer, 44, in an interview with The Washington Post. “This trip was one of those moments. It was a big life goal for Brielle, and she was so proud of herself. Justyna was so proud of her too.”
Justyna, 42, had left her nursing career to support Brielle’s dreams, dedicating herself fully to her daughter’s success.
‘Something Was Wrong’
Beyer had been in constant contact with Justyna and Brielle throughout their trip. Shortly before takeoff, Justyna texted him, happily sharing that a flight attendant had given her a complimentary glass of wine.
As the flight neared its destination, Beyer eagerly awaited their arrival with their six-year-old son, Kallen. He sent Justyna a message asking when they would land—but instead of a response, he saw emergency vehicles racing past.
“Fire trucks started going by,” he recalled in an emotional interview with CNN. “At that point, I knew something was wrong.”
The Fatal Collision
At around 9 p.m., as American Eagle Flight 5342 approached Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, it collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter.
‘I Lived My Life for Them’
The day after the heartbreaking accident, Beyer shared a poignant Facebook post, accompanied by photos of his beloved wife and daughter.
“I’m still in shock, but I lost my soulmate and my princess last night,” he wrote. “Brielle was an amazing figure skater, among many other incredible things. She had just achieved one of her biggest goals—qualifying for the national development team for U.S. Figure Skating.”
Reflecting on the loss of his wife and daughter, he added, “They were truly beautiful people inside and out. I really lived my life for them. I loved them more than anything, and I’m going to miss them so much.”
Our deepest condolences go out to the Beyer family and all those who lost their loved ones in this unimaginable tragedy.
