WASHINGTON, Jan. 31, 2025 – The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (BG-RRT) has deployed crisis-trained chaplains to Washington, D.C., following the collision of American Airlines flight 5342 and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River. Federal and local officials indicated that all people aboard both aircraft are presumed to have perished in the crash.
“The scope of this aviation tragedy is difficult to fathom. We are heartbroken to hear that dozens of people heading to our nation’s capital never made it to their destination,” said Josh Holland, international director of the BG-RRT. “The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team has sent crisis-trained chaplains to the site of the plane crash near Reagan Washington National Airport to provide a ministry of presence and prayer to those who have lost loved ones in this tragedy.”
This is the first aviation disaster that the BG-RRT has responded to since its inception following the terrorist attacks of 9/11. The BG-RRT is now ministering in three areas across the United States. In addition to Washington, the ministry is meeting emotional and spiritual needs following Hurricane Helene in Valdosta, Georgia, and in the Los Angeles area where the Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire have caused wide-spread destruction.
In addition to these domestic efforts, chaplains are also offering hope and providing emotional comfort and spiritual care to families who have been forced to flee their homes in war-torn Ukraine.
For more information on the ministry, including videos, photos, news articles and an interactive map of former and current deployments, visit the BG-RRT press kit or BillyGraham.org/RRT. Updates can also be found at Facebook.com/RRTChaplains.
Media Opportunities
- Interviews with:
- Josh Holland, international director of the BG-RRT
- Chaplain coordinator in Washington, D.C.
- B-Roll and photos (please use with credit to Billy Graham Evangelistic Association)
- Interview request form
About the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team
The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team was developed by Franklin Graham and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association following the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. It has since grown into an international network of chaplains in the U.S., U.K., Canada and Australia who are specifically trained to deal with crisis situations. They have deployed to more than 870 disaster sites across the globe, including shootings, floods, hurricanes, wildfires and tornadoes.
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Media Contact:
Lisa Moseley
lmoseley@bgea.org