30-01-2025
'Light of hope': Awaiting news about crash victims, Wichita residents gather for prayer
WICHITA – More than 100 residents and faith leaders packed into a Wichita City Hall conference room to pray and console each other the day after 67 people died in a mid-air collision over Washington D.C.
It's not yet clear how many Kansans were on the flight, which is a daily route from Wichita to the nation's capital. Officials said that the identities of the victims would only be released after making contact with families.
Many of those who came to the vigil Thursday weren't even sure if they knew someone on board. They still showed up.
"There's no way that we're not going to know people that were on that flight," said local business owner Will Harmon, who described Wichita as a "big-little town."
"If you don't have a personal relationship with someone, you're going to know someone that did. And we need to be here with everybody and support and lift each other up."
Live updates: 'We will find out what happened,' NTSB vows after tragic midair collision
Ronda Kingwood, Pastor of Heart of Christ United Methodist Church, led the assembly in a somber rendition of the gospel song, "We Need You Lord."
Their determined cry was repeated as it echoed through the chamber: "We need you lord, right now."
At a press conference Thursday, Wichita Mayor Lily Wu called the crash "a terrible tragedy that will unite those in Washington D.C. and Wichita, Kansas, forever."
What little is known about the passengers is that several coaches and members of the U.S. Figure Skating development team were on board after attending the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita last weekend. The event is considered a crucial step toward making the Olympic team.
"It was truly an honor to have future Olympians and those who are at the highest competition level of figure skating right here in (Wichita)," Wu told reporters on Thursday. "We were so excited to have the opportunity to host the national championship and even yesterday, I had folks tell me how wonderful these last few days have been with additional individuals that came into our community, whether to watch or participate."
The Rev. Ben Staley of Chapel Hill United Methodist Church showed up at the Wichita airport late Wednesday night to assist family members. At the vigil the next day, he said that community might feel helpless, but they are not hopeless.
"Do you know the world is watching Wichita, Kansas? Let us be a light of hope," Staley told the assembly. "Maybe we should be doing better than we've been doing by caring for one another in spite of differences and all the things that could separate us. Let us remember that love never fails."
Pastor Pamela Hughes Mason, acting president of the Greater Wichita Ministerial League implored the community not to end the day in sorrow.
"We don't know what the day will bring, but we do know that when we come together as one there is power in prayer, power in communities. We pray for comfort in this time of uncertainty, calling for each of us to remember our neighbor."
Rabbi Shmulik Greenberg told reporters at the vigil on Thursday that it is important to come together in moments like these to show unity as a community, regardless of faith denomination.
'We have to come together in times of happiness and joy, and when things like this happen, it's so important that we come together and shine a light. It's not enough to just grieve together, but this has to continue on to joyous times together,' Greenberg said.
The daily American Airlines round-trip flight between Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport and Washington D.C. has only been in service for about a year.
It was announced in January 2024 as benefitting the business and education prospects for Wichita, which is also known as "The Air Capital of the World" for its long history as a hub for aviation manufacturing. Wichita's member of Congress, U.S. Rep. Ron Estes, was on board that inaugural flight a year ago and said Thursday he will continue to support the route.
"I wouldn't hesitate to continue to fly in and out of Washington Reagan airport, including on this particular flight and this particular plane," Estes said. "When you look at the overall track record in terms of how safe air travel is, I still feel confident we have strong safety measures in our air traffic system. And obviously we want to make sure that if there are any areas that need to be improved, we will work on those. And if there's something to be learned out of this lesson, we will take that lesson and move forward."
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Wichita mourns plane crash victims with prayer vigil
