Howard University is mourning the loss of law professor Kiah Duggins, who was among those killed in a devastating midair collision near Reagan National Airport, school officials confirmed Thursday night.
Howard University President Ben Vinson III shared his condolences, saying, “It is with profound sadness that the Howard University community and the Howard University School of Law have learned of the passing of Professor Kiah Duggins. We ask for privacy and respect for her family, students, and colleagues during this difficult time.”
Duggins had strong ties to Kansas, having won the Miss Butler County pageant in both 2014 and 2015.
Who Was Kiah Duggins?
Duggins was an accomplished attorney and advocate for civil rights. Before joining Howard, she worked with the Civil Rights Corps, where she litigated cases challenging unconstitutional policing and money bail practices across Tennessee, Texas, and Washington, D.C. She also collaborated with the ACLU of Northern California and Neufeld, Scheck & Brustin LLP to fight police misconduct.
A graduate of Harvard Law School, Duggins served as president of the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau. She also completed a Fulbright grant in Taiwan and earned her bachelor’s degrees from Wichita State University. Passionate about justice, she studied prison abolition and movement lawyering as a Law 4 Black Lives Fellow.
The Tragic Crash
Officials say the collision happened Wednesday evening when an American Airlines flight carrying 64 passengers collided midair with an Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River. The impact caused a catastrophic explosion, and search teams have recovered 28 bodies so far.
Investigators report that the American Airlines jet, a Bombardier CRJ-701, was descending to about 400 feet at roughly 140 mph when it suddenly lost altitude and collided with the military helicopter at around 300 feet. Air traffic controllers, caught off guard, were heard reacting in shock. “Did you see that?” one controller asked in recorded communications.
As the investigation continues, the Howard University community and beyond are remembering Professor Kiah Duggins for her brilliance, dedication, and commitment to justice.
