Northern Virginia residents identified as victims in DC plane and helicopter collision
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- More details about the 67 people who died in the helicopter and plane crash outside of Washington D.C. are being shared. Several victims were Virginia residents from Loudon and Fairfax counties, ranging from parents to children. At about 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 29, an American Airlines jet collided with an Army helicopter. The plane was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members. Three soldiers were aboard the helicopter. Officials said there were no survivors. In Loudoun County, our ABC affiliate WJLA reported that 12-year-old figure skater Brielle Byer along with her mother, 42-year-old Justyna, were among those in the crash. They are survived by Justyna's husband and Brielle's father, Andrew, as well as the couple's six-year-old son. Justyna (left) and Brielle (right) Byer. (Courtesy of Andrew Byer) United States Figure Skating confirmed early Wednesday morning of multiple athletes, coaches and family members had been on the plane. They were flying back from Wichita, Kan., from a US Figure Skating training camp. A memorial will be held for the victims at an ice skating rink in Loudon County. In Fairfax County, the superintendent of public schools, Dr. Michelle C. Reid, confirmed in a statement that three students and six parents had died in the crash. Two of the parents were current or former employees of the county. “These were amazing young people," Reid said. "Young student-athletes who were at their prime and ready to continue to do amazing things. And to have all of that cut so short, so suddenly, is just so heartbreaking.” We know members of the ice-skating community have created a memorial for the victims at the ice skating rink in Arlington as well.
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RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- More details about the 67 people who died in the helicopter and plane crash outside of Washington D.C. are being shared. Several victims were Virginia residents from Loudon and Fairfax counties, ranging from parents to children.
At about 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 29, an American Airlines jet collided with an Army helicopter. The plane was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members. Three soldiers were aboard the helicopter. Officials said there were no survivors.
In Loudoun County, our ABC affiliate WJLA reported that 12-year-old figure skater Brielle Byer along with her mother, 42-year-old Justyna, were among those in the crash. They are survived by Justyna's husband and Brielle's father, Andrew, as well as the couple's six-year-old son.
Justyna (left) and Brielle (right) Byer. (Courtesy of Andrew Byer)
United States Figure Skating confirmed early Wednesday morning of multiple athletes, coaches and family members had been on the plane. They were flying back from Wichita, Kan., from a US Figure Skating training camp.
A memorial will be held for the victims at an ice skating rink in Loudon County.
In Fairfax County, the superintendent of public schools, Dr. Michelle C. Reid, confirmed in a statement that three students and six parents had died in the crash. Two of the parents were current or former employees of the county.
“These were amazing young people," Reid said. "Young student-athletes who were at their prime and ready to continue to do amazing things. And to have all of that cut so short, so suddenly, is just so heartbreaking.”
We know members of the ice-skating community have created a memorial for the victims at the ice skating rink in Arlington as well.
