Trump Administration deploys fatality management, behavioral health specialists to aid aircraft collision emergency response at Reagan Washington National Airport

As part of the Trump-Vance Administration's commitment to support communities across the country in times of need, the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) deployed a team of fatality management and victim assistance specialists from the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) to aid local responders following the January 29 midair collision at Reagan Washington National Airport. ASPR serves as the nation's primary health response and recovery agency for disasters and public health emergencies. 

At the request of National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), NDMS' Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team (DMORT) is working in collaboration with the DC Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to provide an assessment of fatality management needs. Personnel from NDMS' Victim Identification Center (VIC) team will support the family assistance center. Members of ASPR's Tactical Medicine Team were on the scene immediately after the accident to support responder care at the Incident Command Post set up at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling.

In addition, ASPR's regional personnel worked alongside Washington, D.C. health authorities to determine additional unmet needs, resulting in the overnight deployment of experts from ASPR's Disaster Behavioral Health Team. The team conducted a rapid behavioral health needs assessment which District officials will use to put resources in place to support the family member's behavioral health needs.

"ASPR is honored to provide the additional hands and expertise that local, state, and federal authorities request during a tragedy like this," said Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response John Knox. "We are always on call, and we rapidly deployed to support emergency personnel. Our team has tremendous experience working with local responders and families to identify the victims with dignity and respect."

ASPR's DMORT provides medical examiners, pathologists, forensic anthropologists, fingerprint specialists, forensic odontologists, dental assistants, administrative specialists, funeral directors, and other experts who can assist state and local medical examiners or coroner's offices in responding to mass casualty incidents. During an emergency response, federal partners or jurisdiction officials can request the assistance of an entire team or specific subject matter expertise within a team. These individuals work under the guidance of local authorities, providing technical assistance and personnel to recover and identify the remains of disaster victims.

Victim Identification Center team members provide technical assistance and consultation on the collection and management of information and related issues concerning people who have lost their lives in a public health emergency or disaster. The team may be called on to perform a wide range of functions, such as collecting dental records, fingerprints, medical records, DNA, and conducting interviews with family members to gather information, including DNA samples, to assist the medical examiner or coroner's office in accurately identifying human remains.

ASPR, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is working closely with the NTSB and Washington, D.C., health and emergency response officials to determine any additional needs. More information about ASPR response operations can be found on the ASPR website.