On Wednesday night, a tragic crash occurred when American Airlines Flight 5342 collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk near Washington D.C., killing all 60 passengers and four crew members aboard the jet. The victims came from diverse walks of life, including married figure skating champions, a student returning to college, a lawyer on her birthday, union members, a young airline officer engaged to be married, and military personnel. The crash took place as the passenger jet was preparing to land at Reagan National Airport, with an air traffic controller attempting to guide the helicopter around it.
At 8:47 p.m., an air traffic controller directed the U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter to pass behind a CRJ jet. Moments later, both aircraft collided and crashed into the frigid Potomac River, with the jet breaking into pieces. An air traffic controller reported seeing a fireball before the jet disappeared. By morning, first responders believed no one survived, marking the deadliest U.S. passenger air crash since 2001. Search efforts shifted to recovery, while the cause of the crash remained under investigation.
Jin and Jinna Han: Inspiring Figures in the World of Figure Skating
Jinna Han, 13, was a figure skater with the Skating Club of Boston. She was returning home with fellow skater Spencer Lane after attending the U.S. Figure Skating National Development Camp in Wichita, as reported by U.S. Figure Skating.
Like Lane, Han participated in the 2025 U.S. Figure Skating Eastern Sectional Singles and the U.S. Pairs Final in the Novice Women Free Skate, where she earned a fourth-place finish. A video of her performance is available on YouTube, posted by the national governing body for the sport. Han had been in Wichita for the National Development Camp hosted by U.S. Figure Skating, according to her skating club.
The camp is designed for promising young skaters with the potential to become future champions, according to Doug Zeghibe, CEO of the Skating Club of Boston. Jinna Han’s mother, Jin Han, was also on the flight and is presumed dead. Zeghibe described her as a “wonderful, pleasant, polite” member of the club.
Jonathan Campos: A Pilot’s Aspiration to Soar Like a Bird
Jonathan Campos, 34, studied Aeronautical Sciences at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, graduating in 2015. He earned his pilot and instructor certifications at Embry-Riddle and Epic Flight Academy in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. Campos lived in Ormond Beach, Florida, and was working for PSA Airlines, a subsidiary of American Airlines. Epic Flight Academy remembered him as a skilled and passionate pilot, offering condolences after his tragic passing. Embry-Riddle also expressed their sorrow, sending thoughts to his family and all those affected by the accident.
