American Airlines crew members based in Charlotte killed in midair collision

Jeff Monheit,

CHARLOTTE, NC – Gov. Josh Stein says Charlotte-based American Airlines crew members died in the midair collision near Reagan National Airport Wednesday night.

Stein posted on X, “My heart goes out to everyone who lost loved ones in the tragic DCA plane crash. Anna and I are praying for all involved – including the families of the Charlotte-based crew members.”

 

The wife of Charlotte-based flight attendant Ian Epstein says he died in the midair collision involving an American Airlines jet and a military helicopter.

According to Ian Epstein’s Facebook page he worked for PSA Airlines, which is a regional airline that’s a wholly owned subsidiary of the American Airlines Group.

American Airlines Flight 5342 collided with an Army helicopter while approaching Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington Wednesday night. There were 60 passengers and four crew members on the jet and three military personnel on the helicopter.

The search-and-rescue effort turned into a recovery operation on Thursday. At least 28 bodies have been pulled from the water.

In a Facebook post, Debi Epstein says: “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 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. Please pray for Ian and our family as we travel to DC . We will update when plans are made.”

American Airlines has not released the names of the flight crew members.

First Officer Samuel Lilley also died in the crash, according to his father.

Tim Lilley posted on Facebook saying: “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 was doing great in his career and his personal life. He was engaged to get married in the fall. Sam was the First Officer on the flight that crashed in DC last night. It is so devastating to lose someone that is loved so much.”