By Michelle H
In a tragic incident on January 29, an American Airlines flight collided mid-air with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Washington D.C., resulting in the loss of all 67 individuals on board both aircraft.
Among the victims were 42-year-old Justyna Beyer and her 12-year-old daughter, Brielle, who were returning from the U.S. Figure Skating National Development Camp.
Brielle had overcome cancer as an infant, demonstrating remarkable resilience throughout her life. Her father, Andy Beyer, shared with ABC News, “She was just such a fighter in everything she did. She just lived life to the fullest with everything.”
He also expressed pride in her figure skating achievements, noting, “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. And she was just so, so proud of herself.”
On the evening of the crash, Andy and his six-year-old son were en route to the airport to pick up Justyna and Brielle. When the plane failed to land as scheduled and their messages went unanswered, concern grew.
“When it was time for the plane to land, they hadn’t landed [and] we couldn’t get text messages through,” he explained.
The sight of emergency services at the airport heightened their fears, which were soon confirmed by an air traffic controller friend who informed them of the tragic accident.
Reflecting on that moment, Andy said, “I didn’t have a lot of hope unfortunately, we had a good cry about it right then and there and then we had to go in with the family waiting room and everything before we, hours later, got any official word of what had fully happened.”
In the wake of this devastating loss, a GoFundMe campaign has been established to support the Beyer family during this challenging time.
The campaign states, “In a tragic turn of events, we are heartbroken to share the devastating loss of 12-year-old Brielle and her beloved mother, Justyna, who both tragically died in the recent Washington, DC, plane crash.
“Their absence leaves an irreplaceable void in the hearts of family and friends, and we are reaching out to our community for support during this incredibly difficult time.”
This incident has profoundly affected the figure skating community and all who knew the Beyer family, leaving many in mourning as they remember the lives of Justyna and Brielle.
