Community Demands Change 11 Months After Gaithersburg Plane Crash

GAITHERSBURG, Md (WJZ)--A community is demanding change nearly a year after a horrific plane crash that killed a mother and her young children in Gaithersburg.

11 months later, people in the neighborhood say nothing's been done to keep it from happening again!

WJZ's Rick Ritter has more.

Terrifying video shows the chaos just seconds after a plane smashed right into a trio of Gaithersburg homes killing Marie Gemmell, her two young sons inside the house and three people on board.

Nearly a year later, it's tough for neighbors to look at parts of a cul-de-sac that's since been rebuilt.

Horror that's still in the back of the minds of many and left those who live near the Montgomery County Airpark.

"I'd love for them to rethink some of flight patterns," said Paummi Sarrazini.

Fighting for changes at a county meeting this week.

"The jets are too large and getting bigger and bigger," said Carrie Buttery.

Within the past couple of months, some neighbors just moved back into their homes that were damaged during last year's crash. They say the changes they're asking for are far from drastic, including the direction of aircraft takeoff and increasing altitude.

Issues some have been concerned about for years, but even since the crash, they say there's been no major safety improvements at the airpark.

While many pray the unimaginable, never becomes reality again.

"You don't want to think lightning can strike twice but it's like if it can happen once, it can happen again," said Sarrazini.

At the meeting, local pilots said they feel they already fly safe, but are willing to work with the community on their concerns and expressed how much good the airpark does for the county.

The county says the airport has a strong economic impact, provides 300 jobs and even serves as a launching point for official search and recovery missions.