Sarasota mom turns grief into advocacy after son's tragic plane crash

Nearly a year ago, a mid-air collision claimed 67 lives, including that of Mikey Stovall, a young father, husband, and son.

His mother, Christina Stovall, who splits her time in Venice with her husband, has transformed her grief into advocacy and a mission to honor all the lives lost in the tragedy.

In an exclusive interview with WINK News, Christina shared her journey as the anniversary of the crash approaches. Families are preparing to return to Washington, D.C., to remember and advocate for safer skies.

Christina Stovall lost her son Mikey when American Eagle Flight 5342 collided with a military helicopter before crashing into the Potomac River. All 64 people on the plane and three on the aircraft perished. Christina opened up about enduring the past year without her son.

"No matter what we ask, it's not going to bring him back," said Christina Stovall.

Mikey was a husband, father, and coach, and according to his mother, he never stopped smiling. The days after the crash were challenging for Christina.

"Mikey wasn't just passenger eight on flight 5342; he was a son, a husband, a father, and like all the other passengers. So we just, it's been rough. I mean, we have our ups and downs, but we meet often. We're there to support each other," said Stovall.

In her darkest moments, Christina found strength in her family, other grieving parents, and Mikey. She joined an aviation safety advocacy group, determined to prevent others from experiencing similar pain.

"It took my breath away. I'm like, How can I live when my son is gone? I actually wanted to go be with Mikey, you know, the first couple months after that, and this group, the advocacy group, and the families and our friends have been able to pull me out of that dark spot. And I just, you know, I don't want another family to have to go through this. And if we can make safer skies, that would be great," said Stovall.

Next week, Christina and other families will return to Washington, D.C., not only to remember but to honor the 67 lives lost and the first responders who rushed to the scene. For Christina, this past year has been about moving forward with Mikey in her heart every step of the way.