Plane Crash Horror: Remembering Loss in D.C.

NPR Host Adrian Ma Details Emotional Aftermath of Girlfriend's Death in D.C. Plane Crash

NPR host Adrian Ma's girlfriend Kiah Duggins died in the Washington D.C. plane crash late last month, and he has detailed the emotional aftermath of her death.

Ma described the days since the fatal crash as "basically felt like being in emotional hell." His girlfriend Kiah was just one of the 67 people killed when American Airlines Flight 5342 ended in tragedy.

The aircraft was nearing landing at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington D.C. after departing Wichita, Kansas when it was struck by a Black Hawk military chopper. The passenger plane and the helicopter collided mid-air before crashing into the Potomac River.

"There are reminders of Kiah everywhere," Adrian lamented. "Her glasses are on the nightstand. Her clothes are in the closet. Little curls of her hair are scattered around. I hear echoes of her voice sometimes, especially when I see something and I want to turn to her and say, like 'Hey, check this out' then I realize I can't do that anymore."

Ma said it's been a new level of pain he didn't know he could experience.

Kiah was a civil rights lawyer who was set to begin teaching at Howard University School of Law, which Adrian said was a dream job for her. Beyoncé's mother Tina Knowles eulogized Kiah and lauded her for her achievements.

"So very saddened by the loss of this beautiful accomplished young woman," Tina wrote in a Jan. 31 Instagram post. "Rest in peace to her family sending condolences and love to you. God Bless your Soul Kiah."

Ma chose to speak out about his late girlfriend because he hoped to "exorcise" the pain felt in his chest since her loss.

"I also wanted to talk about Kiah," Adrian noted. "I think the more that I can plant just a little sense of who this person was in people's minds, the more that she can live on, in a sense."

Ma described his late girlfriend as "sunshine personified" and said she loved to ask people, "What was a magical moment from your day?'"