Feb 03 2025 9 mins 1
There were no survivors after a collision between an American Airlines passenger jet and an Army helicopter at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport near Washington, D.C. last week. Dozens of local aircrew members gathered Sunday night at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport overlook to honor the 67 lives lost to the mid-air collision — especially those on the Charlotte-based flight crew.
"Everybody saw a plane crash, but we saw that we lost family," one man shared at the vigil. "It was hard to believe because if you know Ian, you know you can hear him from a mile away, and as we're gathered here, I want us to remember those great memories. Because that’s all we have."
He was referring to Ian Epstein, one of the flight attendants on board American Airlines flight 5342. Multiple speakers shared memories of him, as well as flight attendant Danaisa Elder and pilots Sam Lilley and Jonathan Campos.
While many stories focused on the good memories, the evening was somber.
"This is not just a job we show up and get a paycheck," another woman shared. "The reality is they never boarded that flight expecting to not land.”
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