Delaware man’s unanswered call to wife leads to devastating discovery after D.C. plane crash

A Delaware man is mourning the loss of his wife and son, who were among the victims of the recent plane crash near Washington, D.C.

Vitali Kay, father of 11-year-old Sean Kay—who also went by Ilya—and husband to 42-year-old Julia Kay, told CBS News Philadelphia that he became concerned when his wife did not answer his call on the night of January 29. Kay recalled that he tried calling Julia after her flight was scheduled to land at 9 p.m., but she did not pick up. Initially, he assumed her phone was on airplane mode.

Worried, he rushed from Delaware to Reagan National Airport, where he was immediately allowed through the barricades by police. It was then that he learned the devastating news.

The crash occurred when a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter collided with American Airlines flight 5342 as it approached Reagan National Airport. Both aircrafts plunged into the Potomac River, and all 67 people on board were presumed dead.

Beyond their loss, the Kay family shared a deep connection to ice skating, as noted in a GoFundMe campaign set up in their support. Julia and Vitali’s four children—including their 14-year-old daughter and two younger sons, ages 10 and 7—were all passionate skaters. Sean and his partner, Angela Yang, had been in Wichita for U.S. Figure Skating’s National Development Camp before the crash.

"She was an incredible mother who lived for her children. She spent her days taking them to training, helping them fight for their dreams," read a message on the fundraiser. It also noted that Julia worked night shifts as a nurse to cover costs related to skating, including travel and coaching.

"Ilya was one of the top ice dancers in the country for his age and dreamed of making it to the Olympic team," the fundraiser added.

With Sean’s Olympic dreams and Julia’s devotion to her children, their loss has left the family shattered, with a community rallying around them in their grief.