Andy Beyer, whose wife and daughter perished in a tragic midair collision involving an American Airlines flight and an Army helicopter, speaks candidly about his grief and the enduring impact of their loss.
What was meant to be a joyful reunion turned into an unfathomable tragedy for Andy Beyer. Andy was waiting at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on January 29th with his son when he learned his wife, Justyna Beyer, and their 12-year-old daughter, Brielle Beyer, were on an American Airlines flight involved in a midair collision with an Army helicopter over the Potomac River. The crash claimed the lives of 67 people. Justyna and Brielle were on their way home to Washington, D.C.
, from Wichita, Kansas. In a recent interview with CNN, Andy described his grief in a way that brought tears to the host, Kaitlan Collins' eyes. 'I go through these moments of extreme sadness and tears, and then I get flat and numb,' Andy explained. 'And then I feel guilty that I’m not just crying all the time.' His voice trembled as he recalled the night he and his son drove to pick up Justyna and Brielle, a routine they had shared countless times before. They exchanged texts in the moments leading up to their expected landing, messages filled with anticipation. But then, something changed. 'The tracker said ‘landed,’ and texts went from blue to green,' Andy said. 'And then fire trucks started going by. And at that point, I knew something was wrong. Andy received confirmation that the plane had crashed and then had to deliver the devastating news to his son. 'He came into the front seat with me,' Andy said. 'He let out a really long cry. He just said, ‘No!’ You know? It really hurt. That’s how we found out before anything was really official. But we already knew.' Andy described Brielle as 'the most amazing gift I could have asked for,' a bright and eager daughter who excelled in everything she did. 'She was the dream girl from the moment that I met her, and she just kept exceeding our expectations — from the time she was a baby to the time she was reading chapter books at age 3, to how she excelled in figure skating, made friendships, you know, better than my wife ever could,' he shared. 'She was a social butterfly, smiled in the smallest moments. She was just a joy and a gift. We never forgot that. We soaked it all in.' Brielle's life was marked by both joy and tragedy. At 4 months old, she was diagnosed with cancer. 'That was hard because that was like waking up to a nightmare,' Andy said. 'But at least there was hope then, you know? And we went through so many cycles of kind of like loss and then relief — you know, you get a bad result, and then there was still hope. And then when she finally was more or less clear, you know, we just had this sense of relief. And so for this to happen after that — we just didn’t think anything so bad could ever happen again. You know, that cancer was like one in 100,000. And, you know, plane travel is supposed to be safe.' Andy also spoke about Justyna, a devoted mother who brought warmth and magic into their children’s lives. 'She was the most wonderful mother. She wanted to make every moment special for the kids — and she did,' he continued. 'She created those magic memories, you know, for Brielle too. And we thought those would sustain her into adulthood, that she’d be able to draw from them. So it’s really sad that she doesn’t get to do that. She deserved that. She was wonderful. She was my soulmate. I’m going to miss her so much.' Despite his overwhelming grief, Andy is determined to share his wife and daughter's story so they — along with the other victims — will not be forgotten. 'They deserve to have their story known to the world,' he said. 'I mean, everyone dies, right? And they live on in our memories. And I want people to have a memory of them so that they live on.' For Andy, finding solace in his son and the support of his community is a lifeline. 'Everyone has stepped up in such a big way, and it is what is keeping me going,' he said. 'And I know I haven’t been able to reach out to thank people, but I want to thank people for that — for everything that everyone is doing for me. It has been so helpful. It’s the only thing keeping me going. They’ve been helping me with my son. He’s been having play dates so he can live in the moment, and it’s really been the thing that’s saving us right now.'
Plane Crash Tragedy Grief Family Remembrance Washington D.C. American Airlines
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Demi Moore Shares Heartbreaking Impact of Los Angeles WildfiresActress Demi Moore expresses her sorrow and resilience after wildfires devastate her Los Angeles community.
Read more »
‘Young and the Restless’ star Victor Newman shares heartbreaking news from Palisades fireThe 83-year-old, whose real name is Eric Braeden, shared the news with fans.
Read more »
Paris Hilton Shares Heartbreaking Footage of Malibu Home Destroyed by WildfiresParis Hilton's family home in Malibu was destroyed in the recent wildfires. While sharing her devastation, she also expressed gratitude for the safety of her loved ones and offered words of hope to others affected by the disaster.
Read more »
Dan Campbell's wife shares heartbreaking message after Lions playoff lossMuch like Lions fans everywhere, Dan Campbell’s wife is still reeling after Saturday’s crushing playoff loss.
Read more »
Zooey Deschanel Shares Heartbreaking Photos of Childhood Home Destroyed in LA FiresActress Zooey Deschanel took to Instagram to share devastating photos of her childhood home, which was destroyed in the recent California wildfires. The 1920s Spanish revival home held countless cherished memories for Deschanel and her family, from holidays to birthdays. Deschanel expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support from friends, firefighters, and strangers, while also urging her followers to consider donating to aid and relief efforts.
Read more »
“It’s Heartbreaking”: Savannah Chrisley Shares Her Father’s Latest Struggles in Prison&39;Chrisley Knows Best&39; star Savannah Chrisley stuns after her makeover
Read more »