A tragic midair collision between an American Airlines plane and an Army helicopter near Reagan National Airport outside of Washington, D.C. has left 67 people presumed dead.
As the investigation into the crash continues, families and friends of the victims are taking to social media to share tributes and memories of their loved ones.
Remembering the Victims
Tim Lilley, the father of 28-year-old Sam Lilley, who was a first officer on American Airlines flight 5342, shared a heartbreaking post on Facebook.
“I was so proud when Sam became a pilot. Now it hurts so bad I can’t even cry myself to sleep. I know I’ll see him again, but my heart is breaking,” he wrote.
Sam was engaged to be married in the fall and was described as a phenomenal pilot by his friend and former colleague, Scott Hubbard Jr.
Another victim, Ian Epstein, a flight attendant on the plane, was remembered by his family as a loving husband, father, and stepfather. “Ian Epstein 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. He will be truly missed,” his family said in a statement.
More Victims Identified
As the news of the crash continues to unfold, more victims have been identified. Wendy Shaffer, a mother of two young children, was remembered by her husband, Nate, as a “truly amazing woman” who was loved by everyone she met.
Multiple victims were also former students in the Loudoun County Public Schools system in Virginia, and three students and six parents in the Fairfax County Public Schools district were killed in the crash.
Community in Mourning
The skating community is also in mourning after it was revealed that six members of the Skating Club of Boston were among the victims.
The club’s CEO, Doug Zeghibe, described the loss as “horrible” and said that everyone in the club is like family. Russian figure skaters Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, who competed in multiple Olympic Games and medaled in multiple world championships, were also among those aboard the American Airlines flight.
Investigation Ongoing
As the investigation into the crash continues, officials are working to recover the bodies of the victims. D.C. fire and EMS chief John A. Donnelly said that he’s confident all of the bodies will be recovered, but it may take some time.
The cause of the crash is still unknown, but officials are reviewing air traffic control recordings and other evidence to determine what happened.