Families gather to remember victims one year after collision
Doug Lane, whose wife and 16-year-old son died in the crash, spoke of the families’ determination to support one another in the year that followed.
“While we were powerless in that moment to help our loved ones, we were not powerless to help each other,” Lane said. “So that’s what we did, and that’s what we’ve done ever since.”
The memorial ceremony at the Daughters of the American Revolution Constitution Hall included musical performances from country music stars and the D.C. Fire Department Emerald Society’s pipes and drums band. A firefighter who responded to the crash also performed. The program featured a montage of portraits, graduation photos, and videos of some of the 28 figure skaters killed in the collision.
Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins announced that a memorial plaque commemorating the victims would be established on the Potomac River, where the wreckage sank into icy water. First responders who plunged into the river that night—first attempting rescues and later searching for bodies—were honored with medals for their service.
Matt Collins, whose brother Chris died in the crash, addressed the toll the disaster took on emergency personnel alongside the families.
“While this has been my family’s worst year, the same is true of many of the first responders who responded on the scene,” Collins said. “We recognize the toll this has taken on you, and tonight is our opportunity to say thank you.”
NTSB concludes years of overlooked warnings made crash preventable
The memorial followed a National Transportation Safety Board hearing on Tuesday where investigators concluded that the collision resulted from a combination of failures in communication, oversight, and awareness that made the crash preventable. Board Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy stated plainly that the crash was “100% preventable,” while testimony made clear there was no single cause.
The hearing also documented years of ignored warnings and near-misses that preceded the January 29, 2025, collision.
Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, present at the ceremony, addressed the families’ resilience in the aftermath of tragedy.
“Obviously you were angry. You couldn’t comprehend, how could this happen? Who could let this happen?” Duffy said. “You had choices, and you chose to pay it forward.”
Safety reforms advancing in Congress
The NTSB’s conclusions led to a series of recommendations focused on preventing similar collisions. Chief among them is a bill that would require aircraft to have advanced locator systems—a safety measure the NTSB has advocated for years.
Republican Senator Ted Cruz told the assembled families that the bill was close to final passage, signaling momentum for a key item on the families’ advocacy agenda.
Rachel Feres, whose cousin Peter Livingston and his family—wife Donna and children Alydia and Everly—died in the collision, spoke to how the families are honoring their loved ones through action.
“Honoring the 67 means more than remembering who they were,” Feres said. “It means allowing their lives and our love for them to shape what we choose to do going forward.”