Who are the victims of the DC plane crash?
Recovery operations are still under way in Washington DC, after an American Airlines plane from Kansas carrying 64 people onboard collided with a military helicopter, manned by three personnel, on Wednesday night.
The victims include top figure skaters from the US and Russia, a young pilot, flight attendants, and a lawyer travelling home on her birthday.
Here are some of the people believed to have been on board the helicopter and the plane.
Jonathan J. Campos
The plane's captain Jonathan J. Campos had dreamed of being a pilot since he was three, his aunt told the New York Times.
"I think he wanted to be free, and be able to fly and soar like a bird," said Beverly Lane.
Mr Campos, 34, was raised in Brooklyn, New York, and had worked for PSA Airlines for eight years, she added.
Sam Lilley
The father of 28-year-old pilot Sam Lilley said that he was engaged to be married and "was just at the prime of his life".
Tim Lilley told NewsNation that his son got his piloting license in only a few years because he "pursued it with a vigor".
"Sam's right with Jesus, and I know where he's going," he said.
His sister Tiffany Gibson called him "an amazing person".
"He loved people. He loved adventure. He loved traveling," she told ABC News.
"He was so young, and he was excited about life and his future and getting a dog and a house and kids. And it's just, this is just tragic."
Ian Epstein
Virginia resident Ian Epstein was a flight attendant on the plane, his family said, and was known for his ability to make people smile and was "full of life".
"He loved being a flight attendant because he truly enjoyed traveling and meeting new people. But his true love was his family," the statement continued.
Epstein, 53, was a father, stepfather, husband, and brother, the family said, adding that he will be "truly missed".
Danasia Elder
Danasia Elder was also working as a flight attendant, her family have told US media in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Her brother-in-law Brandon Payne paid tribute to her, calling her "full of life".
"She was a great wife, a great parent, a great friend," Payne said. "She was very bright, very smart... This flight attendant thing was kind of like one of her dreams she wanted to do."
He said that he is proud of his sister-in-law for pursuing her dreams, and said she "would want y'all do the same thing she did".
"Chase your dreams, no matter what. Don't let nothing scare you, push you away. Just believe in yourself, believe in God, and follow the path,"
Live: Follow the latest updates
What we know so far about the plane crash
BBC Verify analyses moments before collision
Watch: The scene in DC after moment of impact
Ryan O'Hara
Ryan O'Hara, 29, was the crew chief of the Black Hawk helicopter that collided with the passenger plane, according to CBS News.
He leaves behind a wife and one-year-old son, his local Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program said in a social media post confirming his death.
O'Hara is "fondly remembered as a guy who would fix things around the ROTC gym as well as a vital member of the rifle team," the post said.
Andrew Eaves
Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves confirmed that Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Eaves was killed in the collision.
Paying tribute to her husband, Carrie Eaves confirmed he was one of the pilots of the Blackhawk helicopter.
"We ask that you pray for our family and friends and for all the other families that are suffering today. We ask for peace while we grieve," she wrote on social media.
Spencer Lane and Christine Lane
Ice skater Spencer Lane, 16, died alongside his mother Christine Lane, 49, and were among at least 14 athletes and coaches who died while returning from a skate camp in Wichita.
His father told local media his son was "a force of nature" who showed "drive and tenacity" to the sport.
"He trained at the Skating Club of Boston five days a week and attended high school online and just committed himself to it," Douglas Lane said.
He added that his wife was "a creative powerhouse" who would do anything for her children.
Jinna Han and Jin Han
Jinna Han, 13, had also travelled to the skate camp with her mother, Jin.
In a 2022 interview, Jinna told a news network in her Massachusetts hometown that she was excited to watch the Olympics.
"It's just so exciting," Jinna Han said. "It's like, who's going to win, what's going to happen, because anything can happen at the Olympics."
Doug Zeghibe of the Skating Club of Boston called Jin "wonderful, pleasant, polite" person.
"Never a discouraging word," he said. "Always appreciative, always supportive of not just Jinna, her daughter, but every athlete. Just role model parents in your sport, and you don't always get that."
Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov
The deaths of beloved ice skating coaches Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, who are Russian, were confirmed by the Kremlin.
Renowned skating coach and friend Rafael Arutyunyan told CNN that he had made his athletes train in silence after the crash as a mark of a respect.
"I know all these coaches," he said. "All of our community was respectful to them and liked them, so I feel it's they'll stay with us forever."
Olivia Ter
Twelve-year-old Olivia Ter from Maryland was among the US figure skaters aboard the flight, local officials confirmed.
"Olivia not only excelled in figure skating programs but inspired others through her talent, determination and sportsmanship," Prince George's County Parks and Recreation said in a statement reported by CBS News.
"The impact of Olivia's life will continue to resonate in our youth sports community, and she will be sorely missed," said Bill Tyler, the director of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission.
Cory Haynos, Roger Haynos and Stephanie Branton Haynos
Cory Haynos was travelling home from the US Ice Skating Championships with his parents, Roger Haynos and Stephanie Branton Haynos, a family member wrote on social media.
"Roger has always inspired me by his absolute love for his family and dedication to providing only the best for his wife and kids," Matthew Alan LaRavier, Roger's cousin, wrote.
"Cory was an amazing skater with a very bright future," he said. "We all were expecting Cory to represent our country in the US Olympics in the future."
Asra Hussain Raza
Indiana woman Asra Hussain Raza, 26, had moved to the Washington DC area after receiving a master's degree in hospital management.
"She was returning from a work trip where she was helping to improve a hospital that really needed help," said her husband Hamaad Raza, who showed the last text message from his wife to news crews outside the airport.
"And, you know, she was doing what she loved. She was even working on the flight."
He added, "She gave a lot, but she had so much more to give. But if there was ever someone who took advantage of their 26 years of life, it was her."
Michael Stovall
Michael Stovall's mother said her son was "the happiest person" who saw the good in everybody.
Mr Stovall, known as Mikey, was travelling home from an annual hunting trip with friends, Christina Stovall told Wink News.
"Mikey did not have one enemy. If you see pictures of him... he was the life of the party. He loved everybody."
Mr Stovall's cousin told the New York Times that he had been flying with at least six of his friends from the trip, some of whom had known each other since childhood.
Jesse Pitcher
Travelling with Mr Stovall was Jesse Pitcher, his father confirmed.
The 30-year-old from Maryland had got married last year and recently started his own business, Jameson Pitcher told the New York Times.
"He was just getting started with life," he said.
"He said he'd see me when he got back."
Pergentino N. Malabed
Philippine police confirmed that one of its officers, Colonel Pergentino N. Malabed, had been on board the flight.
A body carrying Col Malabed's passport was recovered from the Potomac, a police spokesman said.
He had travelled to the US with two other officers to test personnel vests the Phillippine police planned to buy, and was on his way to the Philippine embassy in Washington.
Casey Crafton
Tributes were made to "dedicated father" Casey Crafton of Salem, Connecticut.
"Salem has lost a dedicated father, husband, and community member," Governor Ned Lamont wrote on social media.
Salem Little League, where Mr Crafton was a coach, said the town was "heartbroken" by the loss of the "beloved" club member.
"The Crafton family, deeply involved in all things Salem, has suffered an unimaginable loss," the statement read.
Sarah Lee Best
Two DC lawyers were also on board the flight, their loved ones confirmed.
Sarah Lee Best, 33, was kind and hard working, her husband Daniel Solomon told the Washington Post.
Mrs Best and Mr Solomon had planned to travel to Hawaii, where she was born, for their 10th wedding anniversary in May.
Elizabeth Keys
Lawyer Elizabeth Keys, 33, "always, always managed to have fun... no matter what she was doing," her partner David Seidman told the paper.
She died on her birthday, Mr Seidman said.
The firm where both worked, Wilkinson Stekloff, paid tribute to the "cherished members" of its team.
They were "wonderful attorneys, colleagues, and friends," firm founder Beth Wilkinson said in a statement.
Professor Kiah Duggins
The president of Howard University confirmed Professor Kiah Duggins had died in the collision.
The civil rights lawyer was set to begin teaching at the university's School of Law in the autumn.
"She dedicated her career to fighting against unconstitutional policing and unjust money bail practices in Tennessee, Texas and Washington DC," the university said in a statement reported by US media.
DC crash jet black boxes found as details of victims emerge
What we know so far about Washington DC plane crash
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Video highlights debate over giant rodents overtaking upscale gated community: 'God forbid'
A TikTok video from The New York Times (@nytimes) captured the unusual sight of capybaras strolling through an exclusive Argentine gated community. The video shows that dozens of capybaras have colonized this upscale neighborhood, treating expensive gardens like personal salad bars and using roads as their preferred walking paths. These rodents have been holding up traffic during their strolls, chomping through costly landscaping, and occasionally getting into scuffles with small dogs. Biologists hired by the community learned why the population exploded: Their natural predators had vanished from the area. The capybaras multiply freely without jaguars, caimans, and other hunters keeping numbers in check. "God forbid! They roam through what is their natural habitat that you turned into a gated community," one TikTok commenter wrote. To manage the growing population, developers now sterilize some capybaras through a project approved by the local government. This capybara invasion is part of a growing global problem as human development pushes deeper into wildlife territory. Research shows that human-wildlife conflicts have steadily increased since 1950, mainly driven by urban sprawl and habitat destruction. When we build communities where animals once lived freely, we force wildlife into impossible situations. The capybaras aren't invading. They're trying to survive in what used to be their wetland home. As their natural habitats shrink, these gentle giants adapt by making the best of concrete and grass. For humans, these encounters create real dangers. Property damage from hungry capybaras adds up quickly, and confrontations between large animals and pets rarely end well, according to the BBC. More concerning, such conflicts often result in wildlife being killed, hindering conservation efforts long term. The community is taking a humane approach by sterilizing capybaras rather than removing them. This method controls population growth while recognizing that these animals have legitimate claims to the area. Should the government be paying people to hunt invasive species? Definitely Depends on the animal No way Just let people do it for free Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. You can help prevent similar conflicts by supporting habitat conservation in your community. When planning development projects, advocate for wildlife corridors that allow animals to move safely through human areas. Supporting wetland protection ensures capybaras and other wildlife have places to thrive without raiding suburban neighborhoods. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
New York Post
2 days ago
- New York Post
2 New Yorkers struck by lightning while hiking on Colorado peak were saved in record-high state helicopter rescue
It was a striking view. Two New York men struck by lightning while hiking a Colorado peak were airlifted to safety in what is believed to be the highest-altitude helicopter rescue ever recorded in the state. The duo — who haven't been identified — called for help around 5 p.m. Thursday after getting off course while attempting to climb Torreys Peak, one of the state's highest summits at 14,300 feet. Advertisement 'It didn't sound like they had a ton of experience,' Alpine Rescue Team spokesperson Jack Smith said, noting that the pair decided to summit the peak during a road trip through the Centennial State. 3 The men called for help while attempting to climb Torreys Peak in Colorado. AP 'I think it was probably just a lack of awareness.' Emergency crews had just steered the men back on course when they were zapped by lightning minutes later — leaving one hiker unresponsive and in critical condition. Advertisement About 30 rescuers ascended the mountain while a Colorado National Guard Black Hawk chopper hoisted the injured man off the peak at 14,200 feet. He was then rushed to the burn unit of a Denver hospital, where he remains in fair condition. 3 Alpine Rescue Team at the scene after two New Yorker men were struck by lightning on Torreys Peak. AP Advertisement 3 About 30 rescuers ascended the mountain to help the wounded men. AP The helicopter returned around midnight to rescue the other wounded man, briefly touching down on the mountain before he was treated and released from a nearby hospital. Emergency personnel believe the daring rescue shattered the state's previous record of 13,700 feet — with such missions a challenge due to thinning air reducing a chopper's lift at higher altitudes. The Black Hawk's max ceiling is around 19,000 feet. Advertisement Torreys Peak stands as the 11th-highest summit in Colorado. With Post wires
New York Times
2 days ago
- New York Times
Iranians Describe Israel's Attacks in Voice Memos and Calls
Iranians have not experienced anything like this in almost 40 years. More than 200 Israeli warplanes dropped hundreds of bombs across Iran early Friday, rocking cities with explosions and jolting people out of their beds. They looked out windows onto columns of smoke, ran onto rooftops for a better view and made phone calls to their loved ones. In the aftermath of the attack, some also spoke to The New York Times, sending voice notes amid flickering internet service and offering a glimpse of people's experiences in a country where many don't feel comfortable speaking to international news outlets. They described confusion, fear and anger against Israel, whose widespread attacks drew comparisons to the Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s. 'We were not ready' Shakiba, a 37-year-old occupational therapist based in Tehran, was only comfortable using her first name because of the heightened security situation in the country. She had been getting ready for bed at home with her two cats when the bombing began. She looked outside and saw neighbors gathering on balconies and roofs, everyone trying to see what was happening. She added: 'The first sound was really shocking, because we were not ready, we were not expecting it. And it wasn't just one sound — we heard a couple of sounds at the first. And I know all the people around the country and around the city were following the news, but we were not expecting it to happen.' She later called two of her patients, an elderly couple who live alone, their children out of the country like many other Iranian families. They were near an area that came under attack, but their health conditions prevented them from leaving their home. 'The woman just cried by the phone, and she said that 'I was really afraid because we can't move',' Shakiba recalled. She tried to reassure them, stuck in their home. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
