Victims recognized in DC aircraft crash involving American Airways jet and army helicopter

Household and associates of those that misplaced their lives within the lethal American Airways and Military helicopter collision are sharing tributes on-line as they look forward to extra solutions about how this tragedy occurred. 

The midair crash occurred round 9 p.m. Wednesday, when an Military helicopter and an American Airways aircraft collided close to Reagan Nationwide Airport exterior of Washington, D.C. All 67 individuals onboard each plane are presumed useless.

Tim Lilley recognized his son, 28-year-old Sam Lilley, as first officer on American Airways flight 5342.

“I used to be so proud when Sam grew to become a pilot. Now it hurts so dangerous I can’t even cry myself to sleep. I do know I’ll see him once more, however my coronary heart is breaking,” Tim Lilley wrote in a Fb submit. “Sam was the First Officer on the flight that crashed in DC final night time. He was doing nice in his profession and his private life. He was engaged to get married within the fall.”

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“It’s so devastating to lose somebody that’s beloved a lot,” he added.

Scott Hubbard Jr., a buddy and former colleague of Sam Lilley, wrote on Fb: “I had the respect to assist welcome him to one in all his first flying jobs at SkyLens because the outgoing chief pilot as a result of beginning my profession on the airline. He was an exceptional pilot. I by no means received to fly with him on the airways as I modified firms however I used to be so proud to know him and take into account him buddy. My coronary heart is heavy for his household and fiancé.”

“You left an eternal impression on us all and we’re grateful for you,” he added. “Blue Skies brother. And my condolences are with all the opposite crew members, the passengers, and army service members within the helicopter. This can be a unhappy day.”

A flight attendant on board the flight has been recognized as Ian Epstein.

“It’s with a really heavy coronary heart and excessive unhappiness that myself together with our youngsters Hannah Epstein and Joanna Epstein and his sister Robbie Epstein Bloom and her husband Steven Bloom and nieces Andi and Dani inform you that Ian Epstein was one of many flight attendants on American Airways Flight 5342 that collided final night time after they had been touchdown in DC,” Debi Epstein, Ian’s spouse, wrote in a Fb submit. “Please pray for Ian and our household as we journey to DC. We are going to replace when plans are made.”

Fox Information Digital was instructed that Epstein, who grew up in Montreal, Quebec, had additionally lately grow to be a flight attendant a couple of years in the past, and beloved touring and his job. 

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American Airways has not but confirmed the identities of Lilley or Epstein.

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D.C. fireplace and EMS chief John A. Donnelly mentioned throughout a information convention Thursday that he’s assured all the our bodies from the crash will likely be recovered.

“I’m assured that we’ll try this,” he instructed reporters. “It can take us just a little little bit of time. It might contain some extra gear.”

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Loudoun County Public Colleges in Virginia introduced that a number of victims had been former college students within the college system.

“Our hearts are heavy as we course of the devastating information of final night time’s tragic aircraft crash over the Potomac River involving an American Airways flight and an Military helicopter. This unimaginable loss has deeply affected our neighborhood, and with nice sorrow, we now have discovered that a number of victims had been former LCPS college students,” the college district mentioned in a launch Thursday. “Many different Loudoun households have additionally been impacted, and we lengthen our deepest condolences to all these grieving within the wake of this tragedy.”

Doug Zeghibe, the CEO of the Skating Membership of Boston, mentioned Thursday that six of its members died within the collision final night time.

Zeghibe mentioned 14 skaters had been returning dwelling from a nationwide growth camp in Wichita, Kansas and 6 of them had been members of his group.

“Our sport and this membership have suffered a horrible loss with this tragedy,” Zeghibe mentioned. “Skating is a tight-knit neighborhood the place mother and father and youngsters come collectively six or seven days every week to coach and work collectively. Everyone seems to be like household. We’re devastated and utterly puzzled.”

“Six is a horrific quantity for us, however we’re lucky and grateful it wasn’t greater than six,” Zeghibe mentioned. “This can have long-reaching impacts for our skating neighborhood.

Two of the members had been coaches who had been former world pair champions and two had been youngsters. Moms of the athletes died as effectively, he added.

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The Kremlin mentioned Thusday that Russian determine skaters Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, who competed in a number of Olympic Video games and medaled in a number of world championships, had been amongst these aboard the American Airways flight.

This can be a creating story.

Fox Information’ Greg Norman and Ryan Gaydos contributed to this report. 

Stepheny Worth is author for Fox Information Digital and Fox Enterprise. Story ideas and concepts might be despatched to stepheny.value@fox.com