Massachusetts families seek Army responsibility after deadly DC accident

Families of the victims who tragically lost their lives in a plane crash involving a Black Hawk helicopter have called on the U.S. Army to address safety issues and hold themselves accountable. The accident occurred when Flight 5342 collided with the Army helicopter in Washington, D.C. on January 29th, resulting in 67 fatalities - making it the deadliest aviation disaster in the U.S. in almost a quarter-century. A group of grieving relatives, including family members of skaters Christine and Spencer Lane, who were on their way home from a skating event in Kansas, sent a letter to Secretary of the Army Daniel Driscoll this week. The families, also including those of Harvard Law School graduate Kiah Duggins and North Dighton native Chris Collins, expressed their willingness to collaborate with safety officials to prevent future tragedies, stressing the need for the Army to make safety enhancements in alignment with the NTSB's recommendations. Despite their efforts, some families have criticized Driscoll for a perceived lack of engagement in the process, particularly noting his refusal to work with them, as reaffirmed in his testimony before the Senate Committee on Armed Services. The families are pushing for more transparency and collaboration from the Army, including supporting an audit, offering regular updates, assigning a liaison, and engaging with the families directly. The families' ultimate goal is to prevent further disasters and spare other families from the anguish they have endured. While the Army has extended their condolences and assured cooperation in the investigation process, they have indicated willingness to meet with the families before the upcoming NTSB hearings.