Children with dreams of making the Olympics, friends returning home from a hunting trip and an incoming law professor at Howard University all died in Wednesday’s mid-air crash when a commercial jet arriving from Wichita, Kansas, collided with a military helicopter over the Potomac River Wednesday evening.
Officials said none of the 64 people aboard the American Airlines passenger jet, or the three-man Army Black Hawk helicopter crew, survived the crash near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, as rescue teams continued their work Friday to recover the victims’ bodies from the wreckage.
Officials on Friday said 41 bodies have been recovered from the crash site, with the remainder of the victims expected to be inside and around the submerged plane’s wreckage.
Tributes from loved ones and colleagues have poured in to commemorate those who were lost in the worst domestic aviation accident in a generation.
The Livingston family of four from Loudoun County, Virginia, died in the crash, including dad Peter, mom Donna, and young figure skaters Everly, 14, and 11-year-old Alydia, according to family friend Kim Urban.
“The Livingstons were just — they were just a big personality family. They were loving, they were thoughtful. Donna and Peter were extraordinarily supportive parents,” Ms. Urban told CNN. “They were doing anything for their children. Alydia and Everly were, like, bright children, very talented skaters and super bubbly.”
The two girls were among several young figure skaters and their families who died in the ill-fated flight, according to U.S. Figure Skating. The skaters were in Wichita for a development camp and a championship competition.
Olivia Eve Ter, a 12-year-old skater from Prince George’s County, Maryland, also died in the crash.
“The impact of Olivia’s life will continue to resonate in our youth sports community, and she will be sorely missed,” Prince George’s County Parks and Recreation said in a statement to WRC-TV. “We extend our deepest condolences to the Ter family, friends, teammates, and all those affected by this devastating loss.”
Ice skating coach Inna Volyanskaya, from Ashburn, Virginia, died in the crash, according to a social media post from Rep. Suhas Subramanyam. She coached at Ashburn Ice House, which said she previously competed internationally and performed in ice theater.
Virginia residents Justyna Magdalena Beyer and her 12-year-old daughter, figure skater Brielle Beyer, were both on the American Airlines flight, Ms. Beyer’s sister told NBC News.
“We’re heartbroken,” Mariola Witkowska said. “We’re just in shock.”
Franco Aparicio, an ice skater, and his father, Luciano Aparicio, were aboard the plane when it collided with the helicopter, according to CNN. He was a member of Washington Figure Skating Club and a volunteer on the Junior Board of the organization.
“We are devastated,” the organization posted on its Instagram account. It said several of the deceased victims were beloved members of their community.
Two teenage skaters and two of their parents from the Boston area — Spencer Lane, 16, and his mother, Christine Lane, 49, as well as skater Jinna Han, 13, and her mother, Jin Han, 49 — were on the doomed plane, according to the Skating Club of Boston.
The club said coaches Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov died in the crash as well. The Russian-born married couple won a title together at the 1994 World Championships and competed at the Winter Olympics twice.
Sen. Chris Coons, Delaware Democrat, said figure skating coach Sasha Kirsanov and skaters Sean Kay and Angela Yang went down with the plane.
“My heart goes out to Sasha’s wife Natalia, the University of Delaware Figure Skating Club, and every other Delawarean touched by the three of them,” he said.
Vitali Kay, Sean’s father, told KYW his wife Julia also died in the crash.
Mikey Stovall, 40, of Maryland, was with a group of seven friends who were returning home from an annual duck-hunting trip in Kansas when the collision occurred, according to Mr. Stovall’s mother, Christina.
“From when he was little, everybody will tell you, Mikey loves everybody,” Ms. Stovall told WRC about her son.
One of Mr. Stovall’s friends appeared to be Jesse Pitcher, 30, whose family told The Washington Post he died in the crash while returning from a duck-hunting trip as well. Mr. Stovall was one of four members of Steamfitters UA Local 602 union lost in the crash. Another union member, Steve Johnson, also died in the mid-air wreck.
“I know at least one of them is a huge staple of the community with his fishing and hunting,” Megan Davey, who was friends with Mr. Johnson and some other victims, told WJLA-TV. “It’s a real loss and it’s gonna be tough, especially with their younger families. It’s something that you just don’t expect to hear coming out of a town in southern Maryland.”
The union did not share the members’ names in its announcement.
Kiah Duggins, 30, who was set to start teaching at Howard University’s law school this fall, died in the collision, her parents told NBC.
Ms. Duggins worked as an attorney for the Civil Rights Corps, which said she handled cases involving unconstitutional policing and money bail D.C., Texas and Tennessee.
“We are coming to terms with the grief associated with the loss of our beautiful and accomplished firstborn,” Ms. Duggins’ parents said in a statement. “Please respect our family’s privacy at this time.”
Asra Hussain texted her husband Hammad Raza when the flight was about 20 minutes away from landing. Mr. Raza said he was waiting at Reagan Airport to pick her up after her business trip to Wichita, but his texts stopped going through at one point.
“I don’t think I’ve fully come to grips,” he told NBC News. “I just have spent the last, you know, 24 hours thinking about my wife in that plane and what was going through her head, and I just have not processed it yet.”
Bob Schrock, 58, and Lori Schrock, 56, both of Kiowa, Kansas, were flying into Reagan Airport to go visit their daughter Ellie, a junior at Villanova University in Philadelphia. Both died in the midair collision.
“They were truly gifts from God,” Grace Cantrell, a friend of the Schrock family, told The Washington Post. “My heart just breaks for my best friend.”
The National Association of Biology Teachers said its president-elect, Lindsey Fields, was killed aboard the American Airlines flight.
“Lindsey was traveling to represent the NABT community and advocate for excellence in life science education,” the organization said on Facebook. “This is a tremendous loss. Please keep Lindsey, the other victims, and their families in your hearts. We also ask that you respect the privacy of her loved ones at this time.”
Liz Keys and Sarah Lee Best, two 33-year-old attorneys who worked at the Wilkinson Stekloff law firm in the national capital region, both died in the collision.
Ms. Keys’ birthday was the same day of the deadly crash, her partner David Seidman told the Washington Post. She lived in the District with Mr. Seidman and their dog.
The newspaper also reported Ms. Best was planning to celebrate her 10-year anniversary with her husband in Hawaii this May.
Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Michelle Reid said nine members of the school community were among those who died.
Three students and six parents were on board the flight. Two of those parents were current or former school system staff members, Ms. Reid said Thursday.
Melissa Jane Nicandri, a 28-year-old woman from New York, was killed in the collision.
“Everything that anyone could hope for with a daughter — beautiful, smart, funny, kind and generous,” her family told CNN. “Melissa had an adventurous spirit and will be missed forever.”
Chris Collins, 42, a financial professional from New York City, was killed in the crash as well.
“Our family is devastated by the loss of Chris, our beloved husband, son, brother, and uncle,” the family said Friday. “Chris was a true adventurer with a passion for the outdoors and a lifelong love of animals.”
Casey Crafton, a father to three boys from Salem, Connecticut, also died in the collision, according to WVIT-TV
“Salem has lost a dedicated father, husband, and community member,” Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont, a Democrat, said in a statement. “Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers during this incredibly difficult time.”
Wife and mother of two, Wendy Jo Shaffer, was killed in the crash, according to a family spokesman. Ms. Shaffer lived in Charlotte, North Carolina.
“Words cannot truly express what Wendy Jo meant as a daughter, a sister, a friend, a wife and most importantly, a mother,” the spokesman told the Post.
Jonathan Campos was piloting the American Airlines flight when the collision occurred, a colleague confirmed to multiple outlets. His copilot was 28-year-old Samuel Lilley.
“We will want to tell his story eventually,” stepmother Sheri Lilley said about Mr. Lilley. “He was a wonderful person.”
Ian Epstein was one of the two flight attendants on the plane, according to his sister, Robin Epstein Bloom.
“He loved being a flight attendant because he truly enjoyed traveling and meeting new people,” Ms. Bloom said in a statement. “But his true love was his family. He was a father, a stepfather, a husband and a brother. He will be truly missed.”
The other flight attendant was Danasia Brown, relative Carolyn Edwards told NBC News.
The Philippines National Police said Police Col. Pergentino N. Malabed died in the mid-air collision. The agency said Col. Malabed was on official travel when the helicopter and plane crashed into each other.
“His untimely passing is a profound loss to the PNP, where he served with honor, integrity, and dedication throughout his career,” the agency said Friday on Facebook. “His contributions to the PNP and the nation will never be forgotten.”
The Army identified two of the pilots who died in the crash Wednesday night.
Officials said Staff Sgt. Ryan O’Hara, 28, of Lilburn, Georgia, was the Black Hawk’s crew chief, and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves, 39, of Great Mills, Maryland, was another crew member.
Ofc. Eaves’ body has yet to be recovered, the army said.
CNN reported the third crew member’s name wasn’t being released at the request of her family. The female soldier had about 500 flight hours.
“Mississippi is mourning the loss of Brooksville native Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Eaves, who was killed in last night’s accident at Reagan National Airport,” Gov. Tate Reeves, a Republican, said Thursday on X.
The Chinese Embassy said two Chinese nationals were killed in the crash. The embassy didn’t share their identities.
“The Chinese Embassy extends deepest condolences to all the victims and sympathies to the bereaved families,” a spokesperson said in a statement.
• Matt Delaney can be reached at mdelaney@washingtontimes.com.