Tina Knowles Mourns Death of Howard Law Professor Kiah Duggins Killed in American Airlines Plane Crash

The mother of Beyoncé expressed her condolences to the family of a soon-to-be Howard University School of Law professor Kiah Duggins after she was named as one of the passengers on the American Airlines flight from Witchita, Kan., that collided with a U.S. Army helicopter in Washington, D.C., Jan. 29.

“So very saddened by the loss of this beautiful accomplished young woman,” Knowles wrote on Instagram alongside a picture of Duggins Jan. 31. “Rest in peace to her family sending condolences and love to you. God Bless your Soul Kiah.”

The 71-year-old’s message was shared alongside a photo of the civil rights attorney—who was set to join the school’s faculty this fall—that emphasized, “May her memory be an inspiration to all.”

The university also confirmed Duggins was among those onboard American Eagle Flight 5342 as the airplane carrying 64 people and Black Hawk helicopter carrying three crashed into the Potomac River. (District of Columbia fire chief John Donnelly confirmed Jan. 31 that all 67 are presumed dead as they continue to recover the bodies.)

“As a civil rights lawyer,” the university shared on LinkedIn Jan. 30, “she dedicated her career to fighting against unconstitutional policing and unjust money bail practices in Tennessee, Texas and Washington, D.C.”

After earning her J.D. from Harvard Law School, Duggins worked as a litigator for the Civil Rights Corps., as well as the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California, per her CRC bio.

Amy Sussman/WireImage for Parkwood

In addition to being an alumnus of Witchita State University and Wichita East High School, Duggins had another personal connection to Kansas. Her former pageant director Larry Strong shared that Duggins—who was a season pageant queen—was a top 10 finalist in 2014 and 2015 at the Miss Kansas Pageant.

Despite not earning a crown at the coveted event, she was previously named Miss Butler Country in 2014 and 2015.

Along with Duggins, the regional jet also carried 14 American figure skaters, coaches and family members who were at a camp in Wichita, Kan., according to U.S. Figure Skating. Of those, six were local skaters from the Skating Club of Boston, where two-time Olympic medalist Nancy Kerrigan formerly trained.

Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

She mourned the tragic loss in an emotional speech to reporters alongside other club representatives.

“When you find out you know some of the people on the plane, it’s an even bigger blow,” the retired skater said. “I feel for the athletes, the skaters, their families [and] anyone who was on that plane. “We’ve been through tragedies before as Americans, as people, and we are strong, and I guess it’s how we respond to it. Even when it’s hard, you get back up.”

Keep reading for more information on the devastating crash.

**What Happened to the Passengers on American Airlines Flight 5342?**On the evening of Jan. 29, American Airlines flight 5342 traveling from Witchita, Kan., to Washington, D.C. collided with a United States Army Black Hawk helicopter near the Reagan Washington National Airport, the Federal Aviation Administration confirmed on X, formerly known as Twitter. The plane carrying 60 passengers and four crew members and the helicopter, which had three people aboard, crashed into the Potomac River. The passenger jet, a Canadian-made Bombardier CRJ-700 series twin-engine jet, was operated by American Airlines’ subsidiary airline, PSA Airlines.What was first a rescue mission has become a recovery operation, District of Columbia fire chief **John Donnelly** confirmed Jan. 31 that all 67 passengers in both aircraft are presumed dead.”At this point, we do not believe there were any survivors,” the official said at a Jan. 30 press conference. “We will work to find all the bodies and reunite them with their loved ones.”As officials put the pieces together surrounding the horrific incident, Transportation Secretary **Sean Duffy** shared that the helicopter was in a “standard flight pattern” during the collision and was aware of the plane in the vicinity.”Last night, the helicopter was in a standard pattern,” he explained at the press conference. “If you live in the D.C. area, you’ll see helicopters up and down the river, this flight pattern is seen oftentimes when you live in D.C.”