Decades later, families of Flight 587 victims in NY reflect on new American Airlines tragedy

An annual memorial was held last year to remember the victims of the crash of American Airlines Flight 587 in the Belle Harbor section of Queens on Nov. 12, 2001, which killed all 260 people aboard and five people on the ground. Credit: Debbie Egan-Chin
Families who lost loved ones in a New York plane crash that was one of the nation's deadliest said they were sending quiet prayers Thursday to relatives of 67 people who died a day earlier when an American Airlines jet and an Army helicopter collided in midair by the Potomac River.
Authorities said there were no survivors in the collision involving American Airlines Flight 5342 and the military aircraft as the jet came in for a landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport, the same outcome as when American Airlines Flight 587 crashed in 2001 in the Belle Harbor section of Queens — killing 265 people.
Wednesday's crash spun Belkis Lora back to when Flight 587 crashed shortly after taking off from Kennedy Airport. Her 44-year-old brother, Jose Lora, was among the passengers aboard the flight destined for the Dominican Republic before it crashed in what the Flight Safety Foundation's Aviation Safety Network said is the second deadliest aviation accident on U.S. soil.
"My heart was breaking, for what we went through, and for those families, when they're going find out about what happened. I know how hard it’s going be for them as I experienced the same pain," Lora, 57, from Queens, said Thursday.
Lora, president of the Committee in Memory of Flight 587, called the 2001 crash a nightmare she could not wake up from and said she was so moved to learn of Wednesday's crash that she penned a note on behalf of the committee to the families whose lives will be changed by the loss of loved ones.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you during this incredibly difficult time, and we want you to know you are not alone," Lora wrote.
The Flight 587 crash — just two months after the 9/11 attacks — ignited fears it was another terrorist attack. But investigators found it was caused by turbulence from another plane as well as the overreaction of a pilot who took "unnecessary actions, including making excessive control inputs," according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
Painful memories also have come bubbling back for Port Washington resident Laura Santala, who lost her husband, Timo Santala, 40, in the Belle Harbor crash.
"Those deep emotions which are tucked away come to the surface again and you start reliving all the sad things that happened," Santala, 63, said Thursday. "One of the important things that I recognized, is you grieve on your own schedule."
Joanne Kispert, 74, whose father, Joseph Huber, 75, of Ridge, was on Flight 587 along with his wife, Frances Huber, 58, said Thursday her thoughts and prayers were with the families of the victims of Wednesday's crash — especially the young victims.
Kispert, of Bayside, Queens, recalled watching news of the 2001 jetliner crash flash on TV and, once realizing her father was on board, knew he would have perished instantly. But she also recalled how it took weeks for authorities to find his remains. She said in thinking about
both airplane crashes, she was stuck on what those last moments must have been like for the victims."What goes through their minds? Like it's so horrific to try to contemplate. I just feel so badly that there were young people, young athletes, on that plane," Kispert said of the Flight 5342 crash.
U.S. and Russian figure skaters were among those aboard the jet, which had taken off from Wichita, Kansas.
Fourteen members of the skating community, including teenagers coming back from a national development camp following a U.S. Figure Skating Championships competition in Wichita died in the crash, Skating Club of Boston CEO Doug Zeghibe told The Associated Press.
"Just the horror that the parents are going through — that blows me away," Kispert said. "It makes me so sad for the families."
With AP
Families who lost loved ones in a New York plane crash that was one of the nation's deadliest said they were sending quiet prayers Thursday to relatives of 67 people who died a day earlier when an American Airlines jet and an Army helicopter collided in midair by the Potomac River.
Authorities said there were no survivors in the collision involving American Airlines Flight 5342 and the military aircraft as the jet came in for a landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport, the same outcome as when American Airlines Flight 587 crashed in 2001 in the Belle Harbor section of Queens — killing 265 people.
Wednesday's crash spun Belkis Lora back to when Flight 587 crashed shortly after taking off from Kennedy Airport. Her 44-year-old brother, Jose Lora, was among the passengers aboard the flight destined for the Dominican Republic before it crashed in what the Flight Safety Foundation's Aviation Safety Network said is the second deadliest aviation accident on U.S. soil.
"My heart was breaking, for what we went through, and for those families, when they're going find out about what happened. I know how hard it’s going be for them as I experienced the same pain," Lora, 57, from Queens, said Thursday.
Lora, president of the Committee in Memory of Flight 587, called the 2001 crash a nightmare she could not wake up from and said she was so moved to learn of Wednesday's crash that she penned a note on behalf of the committee to the families whose lives will be changed by the loss of loved ones.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you during this incredibly difficult time, and we want you to know you are not alone," Lora wrote.

Families of those who died in the crash of American Airlines Flight 587 on Nov. 12, 2001, gathered in November for an annual memorial ceremony. The plane crashed in the Belle Harbor section of Queens. Credit: Debbie Egan-Chin
The Flight 587 crash — just two months after the 9/11 attacks — ignited fears it was another terrorist attack. But investigators found it was caused by turbulence from another plane as well as the overreaction of a pilot who took "unnecessary actions, including making excessive control inputs," according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
Painful memories also have come bubbling back for Port Washington resident Laura Santala, who lost her husband, Timo Santala, 40, in the Belle Harbor crash.
"Those deep emotions which are tucked away come to the surface again and you start reliving all the sad things that happened," Santala, 63, said Thursday. "One of the important things that I recognized, is you grieve on your own schedule."
Joanne Kispert, 74, whose father, Joseph Huber, 75, of Ridge, was on Flight 587 along with his wife, Frances Huber, 58, said Thursday her thoughts and prayers were with the families of the victims of Wednesday's crash — especially the young victims.
Kispert, of Bayside, Queens, recalled watching news of the 2001 jetliner crash flash on TV and, once realizing her father was on board, knew he would have perished instantly. But she also recalled how it took weeks for authorities to find his remains. She said in thinking about
both airplane crashes, she was stuck on what those last moments must have been like for the victims."What goes through their minds? Like it's so horrific to try to contemplate. I just feel so badly that there were young people, young athletes, on that plane," Kispert said of the Flight 5342 crash.
U.S. and Russian figure skaters were among those aboard the jet, which had taken off from Wichita, Kansas.
Fourteen members of the skating community, including teenagers coming back from a national development camp following a U.S. Figure Skating Championships competition in Wichita died in the crash, Skating Club of Boston CEO Doug Zeghibe told The Associated Press.
"Just the horror that the parents are going through — that blows me away," Kispert said. "It makes me so sad for the families."
With AP
This is a modal window.
Playoff push for Isles ... FeedMe: Village BBQ ... Get the latest news and more great videos at NewsdayTV
This is a modal window.
Playoff push for Isles ... FeedMe: Village BBQ ... Get the latest news and more great videos at NewsdayTV
Most Popular



