Families come together for safer skies following tragic D.C. plane collision

About eight months after a tragic midair collision between an American Airlines plane and an Army helicopter above the D.C. area, families of the victims are campaigning for reforms to avoid future accidents. Rachelle Steene from Moorestown, whose nephew Anthony Perente died in the crash, is one of the leaders in this movement. Anthony, 34, was an aerospace engineering graduate from Penn State and worked at Deloitte in D.C. He was en route home when the tragedy occurred. Described as a mentor to her children, he was due to marry in July. Steene stated that the incident was completely preventable and blamed the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) for issuing warnings that went unheeded. Affected families have united, hosting regular Zoom meetings and initiating advocacy campaigns to ensure safer skies. Despite grieving deeply, these families are tirelessly working to advocate for safer air travel. The families are resolute in preventing such a loss from affecting others, with Steene proclaiming, "We are a group of family members who are angry, heartbroken, and united in ensuring this doesn't happen to another family." A scholarship, the Anthony Parente Academic Scholarship, was created to honor Anthony's memory and support future Penn State engineers. After initial silence from the Army, the families successfully secured a meeting, representing progress in their advocacy. Through NTSB hearings uncovering ignored warnings, the families remain determined to drive change. Their goal is to honor their loved ones and prevent similar tragedies in the future.