But it's been 25 years and it still doesn't get any easier for families of 24 soldiers.
It was one of the worst days in Army history- a crash at Pope Army Airfield.
An F-16 Fighter Falcon collided in mid-air with another plane, which sent a fireball into nearly 500 troops on the ground at Green Ramp.
On Friday, Fort Bragg honored those who survived and those who passed on.