A year of remembrance: Wichita airport honors those lost in Flight 5342 tragedy

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) - One year ago this Thursday, the Wichita community was forever changed. Flight 5342, which departed from Eisenhower National Airport, tragically crashed in Washington DC, claiming 67 lives. Now, as the anniversary approaches, the city is taking time to reflect, grieve, and honor those lost.

At Eisenhower National Airport, where the flight departed, a memorial has been established to pay tribute to the victims. The memorial serves as a physical space where staff, travelers, and community members can pause and remember.

“We’re definitely hearing from staff and from those that were impacted, the airline employees, that it’s a reminder to reflect and have gratitude for what’s here,” said Jesse Romo, Director of the Wichita Airport Authority. “People are appreciative of the acknowledgement, and like the opportunity to come in and reflect and see some of the pictures that were taken from when it first occurred.”

For many travelers passing through Eisenhower National Airport, the memorial provides a moment of connection to the tragedy. Despite the year that has passed, the emotional weight of the event remains evident.

Karen Braun, who traveled to Wichita from Chicago for business, remembers the shock she felt when she first heard the news. “You just don’t think that anything like that could still happen in today’s time,” she reflected. “Everyone was just so shocked, and yeah, it’s just really hard to believe it’s already been a year.”

Johnny Murray, a Wichitan who recently returned from Hawaii with his family, found himself thinking about the lives lost and the families affected. “I think about how emotional it is to find out that some of those people—their careers, what they did, their lives and their families—were all in that same group at one time that passed away.”

For many in the community, the memorial sends an important message. “It lets the people know that everybody in Wichita, Kansas really cares about what happened,” Murray said.

But beyond the memorial’s symbolic importance, others see it as a reminder of life’s fragility and the importance of cherishing those we love. Karen Braun hopes the memorial resonates with visitors on a deeper level: “There are things out there that we can’t control, and you just never know. If anything, it’s just great to keep your family close, check on loved ones, and always make sure that you tell someone that you love them.”