Their plane struck an Army helicopter over the Potomac River only minutes before they were scheduled to land at Ronald Reagan National Airport, which is close to Washington, D.C.
The deaths of the three troops on the Black Hawk chopper and all 60 passengers and four crew members on American Eagle Flight 5342 were sealed in a horrific moment that was caught on camera and broadcast around the globe.
I don’t think we will locate any survivors at this time. Following a desperate but fruitless search for survivors of the Wednesday night collision, Fire Chief John Donnelly declared Thursday that Washington, D.C.
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The flight originated in Wichita, Kansas, and carried over a dozen passengers, including those returning from a training camp after the 2025 U.S. Figure Skating Championships.
According to the Chinese Embassy in Washington, which cited early information, two Chinese nationals were also on board. The victims were not named by the embassy.
Victims included crew members
First Officer Sam Lilley’s stepmother verified to NBC News that he was on the American Eagle airplane, but the airline has not disclosed the identities of the crew members on board.
“Eventually,” Sheri Lilley stated, “we will want to tell his story.” “He was an amazing individual.
Carolyn Edwards, her cousin, verified that Danasia Brown, a flight attendant, was also killed.
According to Edwards, Brown’s trip was intended to be his final one before switching careers with American Airlines.
Robbie Epstein Bloom, Ian’s sister, verified that Ian was a flight attendant on the aircraft.
In a statement, Bloom added, “He loved being a flight attendant because he truly enjoyed traveling and meeting new people.” However, his family was his main love. He was a brother, a spouse, a parent, and a stepfather! He will be sincerely missed.
Jonathan Campos, the captain, was also slain. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University expressed its profound sadness over his passing.
The institution stated in a statement, “Our thoughts are with his family and the families and loved ones of all impacted by this tragic accident.”
Staff Sgt. Ryan Austin O. Hara, 28, of Lilburn, Georgia; Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves, 39, of Great Mills, Maryland; and Capt. Rebecca M. Lobach, of Durham, North Carolina, were the three individuals identified by the Army as being on board the downed Black Hawk.
According to O Hara’s relatives, he leaves behind an 18-month-old boy and a wife.
After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the military and has since devoted his life to serving his nation. His cousin Jocelyn Gompers commented on social media that he knew what his interest was and was committed to it because he was heavily involved in ROTC throughout high school. Those who worked with him have characterized him as an exceptional soldier who is highly regarded as one of the most committed, disciplined, and dedicated warriors.
The stories of some of the other victims of the first commercial aviation crash in the United States since 2009 started to surface as the rescue mission evolved into a recovery effort.
Young figure skaters were among the passengers
At The Skating Club of Boston in Norwood, Massachusetts, 16-year-old Spencer Lane and Jinna Han showed promise as skaters. Jin Han and Christine Lane, their mothers, were traveling with them.
Warwick Figure Skaters in Rhode Island, where Lane began his career, honored him on their Facebook page.
The part that said, “He was always a bright light at our rink,” “His passion for the sport was evident from the start. He was a pleasure to watch and was always thrilled to be on the ice.
Brielle Beyer, 12, and her mother, 42-year-old Justyna Magdalena Beyer, who resided in a Virginia suburb of Washington, were also killed. Brielle, a member of the Skating Club of Northern Virginia, needed to hone her skills, which is why they were in Wichita.
We’re devastated, Mariola Witkowska, Justyna Beyer’s sister, stated. We’re simply stunned.
She claimed that Brielle had been skating all of her life and that her mother was an avid skater as well.
According to Witkowska, her sister Brielle’s life revolved around ice skating.
Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova, who taught young skaters at the Boston skating club, were among those killed, according to Zeghibe.
In couples figure skating, the two took home a world championship in 1994. Additionally, they participated in two Olympic competitions, finishing fourth in Lillehammer, Norway, in 1994 and fifth in Albertville, France, in 1992.
However, Zeghibe stated that their pride and delight was their 24-year-old son, Maxim Naumov, who had taken an earlier trip home after competing in Wichita.
According to Zeghibe, Shishkova, who had been the club’s coach for more than 20 years, was too anxious to watch her son participate. Naumov was left to support his son as he finished in fourth position.