DC plane crash GoFundMe appeals raises over $1 million as community rallies around victims families

People across the country have united to support the families of those killed in the tragic plane crash that took place in Washington, D.C., on January 29, 2025. Approximately 67 lives have been lost in the crash.

The GoFundMe campaign, which was established for the families of those who died, has collectively garnered more than $1 million in just a few days.

The collision happened as American Eagle Flight 5342, which is operated by PSA Airlines, was on final approach to Reagan National Airport. The plane, which was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members from Wichita, Kansas, collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter that was on a training mission.

A GoFundMe hub was established where separate fundraising efforts for the families of a number of plane crash victims could be coordinated. Confirmed fundraisers include campaigns for Casey Crafton, Wendy Jo Shaffer, Mikey Stovall, Justyna Beyer and her daughter Brielle, and the civil rights attorney Kiah Duggins.

The campaign has attracted widespread attention and donations from thousands of donors around the country. According to The Independent, one of the most well-funded campaigns is that of the mother of two boys, Wendy Jo Shaffer, whose family has raised over $338,750 (at the time of this writing).

On Flight 5342 was Casey Crafton, a husband and father of three from Salem, Connecticut. He had been flying home from Wichita with a stopover in D.C. before returning to his family. His GoFundMe account has raised $54,024 (at the time of this writing) to help support his widow and children.

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Also, a mother-daughter duo, Justyna and Brielle Beyer, who were coming back from a figure skating competition, have been met with an overwhelming sense of support.

Brielle was 12 and an aspiring Olympian figure skater. So far, they have raised $106,916 to help honor their legacy and support their grieving family.

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More about the D.C. Plane crash and its recovery efforts

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has begun a broad investigation of the collision. As of Saturday, the bodies of 42 people had been recovered from the Potomac River, with additional searches ongoing.

The plane’s flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder commonly known as black boxes, have been recovered and sent to be analyzed. Authorities hope such recordings can help them understand more about the plane crash.

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A key focus of the investigation revolves around air traffic control at the time of the plane crash. Reports suggest that only one air traffic controller was managing and guiding both the helicopter and the plane out of the Reagan National Airport tower, which is usually a two-person job.