'A scholar and activist': Civil rights attorney Kiah Duggins named victim in DC crash

USA Today

31-01-2025

'A scholar and activist': Civil rights attorney Kiah Duggins named victim in DC crash
An aspiring law professor and former Miss Kansas contestant is among the dead after a commercial jet collided with a military helicopter Wednesday outside Washington D.C., family and school officials said.
Kiah Duggins was among the 64 people on board the airplane when it collided with a Blackhawk trying to land at the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, relatives and close friends confirmed. All on board both aircrafts are feared dead, officials said Thursday.
She was 30.
"Kiah believed in radical love, unwavering truth, and the fight for a better world. Let's carry her torch forward," Family member Aisha Duggins wrote in a fundraiser she created slated to go toward causes and initiatives "dear to her heart, ensuring that her work and passion live on."
Former Sedgwick County Commissioner Lacey Cruse also confirmed Duggins' death in a Facebook post and called her a "brave and beautiful soul."
Prior to her death, Duggins was "set to begin a new chapter as a professor at Howard University in the fall," the university posted on social media.
She dedicated her career to fighting against "unconstitutional policing and unjust money bail practices in Tennessee, Texas and Washington, D.C.," the post reads.
USA TODAY has reached out to Duggins' family.
Kiah Duggins was also Miss Kansas contestant
According to Larry Strong, Duggins' former pageant director, Duggins was a two-time former Miss Kansas contestant.
'It is with heavy heart that the Miss Augusta and Miss Butler County organization just learned that Kiah Duggins... was a passenger in the plane that crashed last evening in Washington DC,' Strong posted on Facebook Thursday. 'Keep the rest of the family in your thoughts and prayers at this difficult time.'
Duggins was Miss Butler County 2014 and 2015, Strong wrote.
"The Miss Kansas Organization community, to include our brand ambassadors, board of directors and volunteers, call on our entire state to join in us collectively sending our love and deepest condolences to the families and loved ones impacted by the tragic loss of life aboard American Airlines Flight 5342."
"Our hearts are with you all as we lift each other up during this incredibly difficult time," the organization posted on its Facebook page.
Where was Attorney Kiah Duggins' from?
A Wichita native, Duggins attended Wichita Public Schools, the district confirmed to USA TODAY Friday, and graduated from Wichita High School East.
A graduate of the Class of 2013, Duggins was an International Baccalaureate Diploma graduate, a member of the Dance Team, Model UN Club, Spanish and National Honor Societies, and Student Government, Wichita High School East Principal Sara Richardson told USA TODAY Friday.
"She was also a Homecoming Queen candidate, a testament to the admiration and respect she earned from her peers," Richardson said. "Her determination to make a difference, especially in the lives of young people of color, was evident in everything she did. She led with kindness, purpose, and a commitment to lifting others up, inspiring those around her to strive for excellence and equity.
"While we grieve this tremendous loss, we also honor the incredible legacy Kiah leaves behind. Her impact on our school, community, and beyond will not be forgotten."
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Duggin's graduated from Wichita State University
Duggin's went on attending Wichita State University as a Clay Barton Scholar, according to her profile on the university's website.
"Kiah was more than a scholar and activist," Aisha Duggins wrote. "She was a beloved sister-friend, a source of inspiration, and a beacon of grace and integrity. She made you want to be smarter, kinder, and bolder. Her presence challenged everyone around her to step into their most fearless, compassionate selves."
"Dear God, please give Kiah the highest seat in heaven," her childhood friend, Dylan Severson posted in a tribute on Facebook. "Her memory is abundant with blessings and love overflowing. Her name brings profound joy and hope & her passing leaves painful tears and sorrow. You're irreplaceable in my heart, and I love you forever."
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Kiah Duggins worked as civil rights attorney for non-profit
Duggins graduated from Harvard University and was a civil rights attorney with the non-profit Civil Rights Corps.
According to its website, the organization 'litigate[s] on behalf of movements challenging unconstitutional policing" and is dedicated to challenging systemic injustice in the United States' legal system.
USA TODAY has reached out to Civil Rights Corps.
What happened to American Airlines Flight 5324?
The crash took place just before 9 p.m. when AA Flight 5342 from Wichita, Kansas, attempted to land at Reagan National Airport and crashed in midair with a Black Hawk helicopter, carrying three people.
The passenger plane with 64 people aboard then fell into icy waters of the Potomac River.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board, which confirmed Thursday divers had recovered black boxes from the passenger plane.
During a news conference, NTSB member Todd Inman said the military helicopter was also equipped "with some form of recording."
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [e-mail] and follow her on X @nataliealund