Flight 587 Vicitms' Loved Ones Commemorate 19th Anniversary of the Crash
November 12th is a day that’s normal for some, and very difficult for others. It’s the day that -- in 2001 -- American Airlines Flight 587 bound for the Dominican Republic’s Las Americas International Airport crashed shortly after takeoff from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport. All 260 people onboard were killed, in addition to 5 people on the ground. For the family members and loved ones of the victims the day is very hard, even nineteen years later.
Upon arrival, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio speaks with Flight 587 Memorial Committee President, Belkis Lora
“I remember that I was the one that took him to the airport. I gave him the last hug. To remember that moment is unforgivable. I never imagined that that day when I took him to the airport was gonna be the last day that I [was] gonna see him again. So it’s very painful,” explained Belkis Lora. Lora is the president of the Memorial Committee for Flight 587.
Lora organized the memorial where those who knew the victims could come and remember them, and commemorate the 19th anniversary on the day they lost their lives. With a few dozen attendees outside in the wind, and light rain; they read aloud names and listened to speakers like Lora and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio who found hope at the sight of the families coming together.
The reading of the names of the crash victims.
“The fact that you’re still here gives me such hope. The fact that the love you feel for those you lost -- and the love for each other sustains you. [It’s] a reminder of the strength of the people of the Dominican community; the strength of all New Yorkers.”
At the end of the commemoration families gathered with Mayor de Blasio to place flowers at the memorial site which features names of those they were taking the time to remember. They brought the photos of their loved ones. Anna Espimal pressed her loved one’s photo up to the memorial and took a photo finding this anniversary, like the others, sentimental. “No matter what time it happened, it still hurts,” she explained. She shook at remembering she lost her mom explaining how it was terribly sad, “I couldn’t believe it. I will never forget that day.”
Due to the crash date’s close proximity to that of the terrorist attacks on our nation on September 11th, many initially believed that the crash was an act of terrorism. Investigators found that this wasn’t the case. Instead, the plane crashed due to the pilot’s abrupt use of the plane’s rudder system as a response to wake turbulence from a Japan Airlines Boeing 747 that departed before it. The pilot’s response to the wake turbulence was done according to American Airlines training.
Since the crash that training has been corrected and there have been revisions to steering systems on some aircraft.
Loved ones brought photos of those they lost to the memorial.