Today marks the one-year anniversary of a horrific tragedy over the skies of our nation’s capital — the crash of American Airlines Flight 5342. While 12 months have passed, the loss of those 67 souls and the impact it had on their loved ones, their communities, and the country remains painfully fresh.

It is often challenging to find any source of comfort in such unspeakable heartbreak. Yet somehow, through that immense pain, the families of Flight 5342 spent the last year turning their grief into a catalyst for change. Their determination, advocacy, and spirit have galvanized the entire aviation industry to elevate safety like never before — including at the Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration.