Andy Beyer sat in the parking lot outside Reagan National Airport, eagerly texting his wife, Justyna, who was on American Airlines Flight 5342 with their 12-year-old daughter, Brielle. The wait was filled with excitement—he was just moments away from embracing the two people he “loved more than anything.”
As he looked forward to their arrival, he suddenly noticed firetrucks racing past him, their sirens wailing into the night. Unbeknownst to him, he had just lost his wife and daughter in a devastating midair collision that claimed the lives of 67 people.
Brielle was returning home to Northern Virginia with her mother after an intensive six-day training camp in Wichita, Kansas. She was no ordinary child—she was a cancer survivor and an elite figure skater, part of an exclusive group of top young athletes in the country.
At just a few months old, Brielle was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a rare and aggressive cancer that affects nerve tissue. According to the Mayo Clinic, it develops from immature nerve cells and can be found in several areas of the body. She underwent multiple surgeries, spent time on a ventilator, and fought through her early years with remarkable strength.
Even after beating cancer, she continued to face challenges. The residual nerve damage in her legs made skating a difficult feat, yet she persevered, defying the odds. Despite these obstacles, she became one of the best in her age group nationally.
