On a cold January evening, 64 people boarded American Airlines Flight 5342 in Wichita, Kansas, bound for Washington, D.C. None of them would make it home. The plane collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River, creating a fiery crash that took the lives of everyone on both aircraft.

Among the victims was 26-year-old Asra Hussain, a bright young woman with a passion for public health. There were also business travelers, like 33-year-old lawyer and a group of colleagues from a D.C. law firm who had wrapped up a work trip in Kansas.

For Bob and Lori Schrock, the flight was a routine journey. The Kansas farming couple often traveled to Maryland to visit their daughter. Friends remember them as devoted to their faith and their community.

The plane also carried a group of 28 figure skaters, their parents, and coaches. These youngsters were returning from an elite skating camp in Wichita, many with dreams of competing in the Olympics. Among them were Edward Zhou, a talented 16-year-old skater, and Cory Haynos, who had just mastered the triple axel.

The crash also claimed the lives of seven hunting buddies from Maryland, who had been on a duck-hunting trip. Families and friends shared memories of their love for the outdoors and their tight-knit camaraderie.

From across the globe, Pergentino Malabed Jr., a colonel in the Philippines National Police, was on his way home after a work trip. His wife recalled his last words to their young daughter: “I’ll see you soon.”

This tragedy brought together people from all walks of life—farmers, lawyers, skaters, hunters, and more. Their stories remind us of the preciousness of every moment and the connections that bind us all.

[Image by: American Airlines]