Father Shares Heartbreaking Story of Loss After American Airlines Crash, Reveals What Made Him Suspect Something Was Wrong
A grieving father, who tragically lost both his wife and 12-year-old daughter in the horrific American Airlines crash, has shared the unsettling moment that led him to suspect something was terribly wrong.
On the evening of Wednesday, January 29, disaster struck when a PSA Airlines aircraft, owned by American Airlines, collided mid-air with a Black Hawk US Army helicopter. Flight 5342, carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, was nearing Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington D.C., preparing to land when the crash occurred.
The wreckage from both the plane and helicopter plummeted into the Potomac River, sparking an ongoing recovery mission. All 64 individuals aboard the commercial flight and the three on the helicopter are feared dead.
Among the victims were Andy Beyer’s wife, Justyna, 42, and their daughter, Brielle, who had previously fought—and beaten—cancer as a child. The family had been returning to Washington D.C. after Brielle participated in the US Figure Skating National Development Camp.
In an emotional interview with ABC News, Andy Beyer reflected on the strength and resilience of his daughter, Brielle, who had battled cancer as a baby. “She was a fighter in everything she did,” he said. “She lived life to the fullest, no matter what she faced.”
“She Was So Proud”: Father Reflects on Daughter’s Achievements Before Tragic Crash
“She was so proud of herself in figure skating for the progress she had made… Making that team was one of her life goals, and she achieved it. She was just so, so proud of herself,” Andy Beyer shared with heartache about his daughter, Brielle.
Beyer, accompanied by the couple’s 6-year-old son, was on his way to the airport to pick up Justyna and Brielle when a sense of unease began to settle in.
“When it was time for the plane to land, they hadn’t landed yet, and we couldn’t get text messages through,” he explained, the tension rising.
The sight of emergency vehicles only heightened his fear, and it was a friend, an air traffic controller, who ultimately confirmed his worst nightmare: the crash.
“I didn’t have a lot of hope, unfortunately,” Beyer admitted. “We had a good cry right then and there, and then we had to sit in the family waiting room, waiting for hours before we finally got any official word about what had fully happened.”
In the wake of this tragedy, a GoFundMe campaign has been set up by a close family friend to provide support to the Beyers during this incredibly difficult time.
“A Heartbreaking Loss: Support Needed for Beyer Family After Tragic Plane Crash”
“In a devastating turn of events, we are overwhelmed with grief as we share the heartbreaking loss of 12-year-old Brielle and her cherished mother, Justyna, who both tragically passed away in the recent plane crash near Washington, DC,” the GoFundMe page reads.
“Their loss leaves an irreplaceable void in the hearts of all who knew them. As their family and friends navigate this unimaginable sorrow, we are turning to our community for support during this profoundly difficult time.”