Davids, Kansas Colleagues Honor Victims of Flight 5342 Collision with Resolution on House Floor

Today, Representative Sharice Davids (D-KS-03) joined her Kansas colleagues on the House floor to support the passage of a resolution honoring the victims of the tragic Flight 5342 collision. The resolution commemorates the 67 lives lost in the crash of American Airlines Flight 5342, which was traveling from Wichita and collided with a UH-60 Army Black Hawk helicopter. Among the victims were several Kansans.

"I stand alongside my colleagues from Kansas to honor the lives lost, including those from our own state, in the tragic collision between Flight 5342 and PAT 25,” said Davids. “My heart is with the families and communities grieving this profound loss. We must continue working to improve aviation safety to ensure no other family faces such unimaginable heartache. The memory of those we lost will continue to guide our commitment to a safer future."

WATCH: Davids managed the U.S. House floor and spoke on the resolution

“While it’s been just a little more than one month since this tragic incident, there are still no words to adequately express the heartbreak we all feel at your loss, and no words that can properly console you. I pray that, in time, God would give you and all those impacted a peace that would surpass all understanding,” said Representative Ron Estes (R-KS-04). “It is in each home, school, workplace and community where each of the 67 victims was known and loved that they will continue to be remembered, celebrated and honored. As we’ve learned more about the individual passengers aboard the plane, as well as the pilots and flight crew of Flight 5342 and the crew of the Black Hawk, we’ve come to know how much they meant to the people around them – and how much they will be missed.”

“Today, our Kansas delegation stands united as we remember the victims of Flight 5342,” said Representative Derek Schmidt (R-KS-02). “Our prayers remain with the family and friends of all affected by this horrible tragedy, and our gratitude remains with all the first responders who worked diligently around the clock on rescue and recovery efforts. My colleagues and I will continue working with federal agencies to determine how this collision occurred and what steps can be taken to prevent future tragedies.”

“Today, I join the Kansas delegation in honoring the lives lost in the tragic accident on January 29, 2025,” said Representative Tracey Mann (R-KS-01). “We will always remember the lives of our fellow Kansans and fellow Americans whose lives were tragically lost—farmers, parents, professors, college students with bright futures, taken from us far too soon. As the investigation into the accident continues to unfold, we must learn from our findings to prevent this from ever happening again. Audrey and I continue to express our deepest condolences and prayers to those impacted by the accident and mourn the lives tragically lost.”

Last month, Davids urged Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to prioritize the swift implementation of vital aviation safety reforms outlined in the recently passed bipartisan Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization, stressing the importance of overcoming bureaucratic and political hurdles. In a Kansas City Star op-ed, Davids also underscored the immediate need for action and the tangible impact the FAA Reauthorization will have on aviation safety.

Initially following the collision, Davids and her Kansas colleagues expressed their steadfast solidarity with the families and communities affected by the tragedy. The entire Kansas congressional delegation also released a joint statement in response to the devastating incident.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is currently investigating the incident, and based on its findings, Davids and her colleagues on the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee’s Aviation Subcommittee will take the necessary legislative measures to prevent this type of tragedy from happening again.