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January 27, 2026
DC midair collision victim families push aviation safety reforms one year on
Families of the 67 people killed in a midair collision over the Potomac River say regulators have taken steps to improve aviation safety since the crash one year ago, though they argue additional changes are still needed.

TL;DR
- Families of the 67 victims of a Potomac River midair collision believe aviation safety has seen improvements in the past year.
- They argue that additional changes are still necessary to prevent future tragedies.
- The collision, which occurred on January 29, 2025, involved American Airlines Flight 5342 and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter.
- This incident was the deadliest U.S. aviation disaster in nearly 25 years.
- The NTSB is preparing to vote on the probable cause and safety recommendations for the crash.
- Families view the anniversary as a critical point to assess momentum for lasting aviation reform.
- One victim, Sam Lilley, was the 28-year-old first officer on the CRJ-700 for PSA Airways.
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