Family and friends of those who lost their lives in the deadly American Airlines and Army helicopter collision are sharing tributes online as they wait for more answers about how this tragedy happened.
The midair crash occurred around 9 p.m. Wednesday, when an Army helicopter and an American Airlines plane collided near Reagan National Airport outside of Washington, D.C. All 67 people onboard both aircraft are presumed dead.
Tim Lilley identified his son, 28-year-old Sam Lilley, as first officer on American Airlines flight 5342.
“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,” Tim Lilley wrote in a Facebook post. “Sam was the First Officer on the flight that crashed in DC last night. He was doing great in his career and his personal life. He was engaged to get married in the fall.”
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“It is so devastating to lose someone that is loved so much,” he added.
Scott Hubbard Jr., a friend and former colleague of Sam Lilley, wrote on Facebook: “I had the honor to help welcome him to one of his first flying jobs at SkyLens as the outgoing chief pilot due to starting my career at the airline. He was a phenomenal pilot. I never got to fly with him at the airlines as I changed companies but I was so proud to know him and consider him friend. My heart is heavy for his family and fiancé.”
“You left an everlasting impact on us all and we are grateful for you,” he added. “Blue Skies brother. And my condolences are with all the other crew members, the passengers, and military service members in the helicopter. This is a sad day.”
A flight attendant on board the flight has been identified as Ian Epstein.
“It is with a very heavy heart and extreme sadness that myself along with our children 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 the flight attendants on American Airlines Flight 5342 that collided last night when they were landing in DC,” Debi Epstein, Ian’s wife, wrote in a Facebook post. “Please pray for Ian and our family as we travel to DC. We will update when plans are made.”
Fox News Digital was told that Epstein, who grew up in Montreal, Quebec, had also recently become a flight attendant a few years ago, and loved traveling and his job.
“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 was a father, a stepfather, a husband and a brother! He will be truly missed,” Epstein’s family said in a statement sent to Fox News.
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American Airlines has not yet confirmed the identities of Lilley or Epstein.
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D.C. fire and EMS chief John A. Donnelly said during a news conference Thursday that he’s confident all of the bodies from the crash will be recovered.
“I’m confident that we will do that,” he told reporters. “It will take us a little bit of time. It may involve some more equipment.”
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Fox News Digital has learned the identity of another victim on board flight 5342, a mother of two young children, Wendy Shaffer.
“I’m still waiting to wake up from this nightmare, but I fear this is the truth. Wendy was not just beautiful on the outside, but was a truly amazing woman through and through,” Wendy’s husband, Nate Shaffer, shared in a statement with Fox News Digital.
“She was the best wife, mother, and friend that anyone could ever hope for. Her love, kindness, and strength touched everyone she met. We will miss you more than words can express, Wendy Jo. I love you endlessly! Rest in peace, my love.”
Loudoun County Public Schools in Virginia announced that multiple victims were former students in the school system.
“Our hearts are heavy as we process the devastating news of last night’s tragic plane crash over the Potomac River involving an American Airlines flight and an Army helicopter. This unimaginable loss has deeply affected our community, and with great sorrow, we have learned that multiple victims were former LCPS students,” the school district said in a release Thursday. “Many other Loudoun families have also been impacted, and we extend our deepest condolences to all those grieving in the wake of this tragedy.”
Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia said in a statement on its website that three students and six parents in the district were killed in the crash. Two of those parents were current or former FCPS staff members.
Doug Zeghibe, the CEO of the Skating Club of Boston, said Thursday that six of its members died in the collision last night.
Zeghibe said 14 skaters were returning home from a national development camp in Wichita, Kansas and six of them were members of his organization.
“Our sport and this club have suffered a horrible loss with this tragedy,” Zeghibe said. “Skating is a tight-knit community where parents and kids come together six or seven days a week to train and work together. Everyone is like family. We are devastated and completely at a loss for words.”
Zeghibe identified skaters Jinna Han and Spencer Lane as two of the victims in the crash. Their mothers were also onboard, the Associated Press reported. Lane later posted a photo on his Instagram story with a view from inside the plane before it departed from Wichita.
“Six is a horrific number for us, but we’re fortunate and grateful it wasn’t more than six,” Zeghibe said. “This will have long-reaching impacts for our skating community.
Two of the members were coaches who were former world pair champions and two were teenagers. Mothers of the athletes died as well, he added.
The Kremlin said Thursday that Russian figure skaters Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, who competed in multiple Olympic Games and medaled in multiple world championships, were among those aboard the American Airlines flight.
Fowl Plains hunting club in Great Bend, Kansas, wrote on Facebook that seven clients died in the crash.
“We’ve always said our clients are more than friends,” the group wrote. “They’re family. Last night we lost 7 family members in the horrific plane crash. 7 family members we’ve had the privilege to hunt with the last few years.”
The United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry of the United States and Canada (UA) shared on X that five of its members died in the crash.
“We are heartbroken to confirm the loss of a fifth UA Brother onboard American Airlines Flight 5342 last night. May they all rest in peace,” the organization wrote in a post on X.
This is a developing story.
Fox News’ Greg Norman, Bill Melugin, and Ryan Gaydos contributed to this report.
Stepheny Price is writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. Story tips and ideas can be sent to [email protected]
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