The Tragic Last Words Of American Eagle Pilot Jonathan Campos To His Family As He Boarded The Aircraft Prior To The DC Plane Accident
Before the tragic crash of American Airlines Flight 5342 near Washington, DC, Captain Jonathan Campos expressed excitement about an upcoming family cruise. His uncle, John Lane, shared his final words, recalling a conversation just before boarding, where Campos sounded happy and looked forward to spending time with family on the Icon of the Seas cruise.
The flight, carrying 67 people, collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter above the Potomac River on Wednesday evening. Campos, First Officer Samuel Lilley, and flight attendants Ian Epstein and Danasia Elder were among those killed. Campos, 34, had dreamed of flying since childhood, playing with toy planes, and had a promising career ahead. He was living in Orlando with his girlfriend and had studied at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
The crash, the deadliest in 16 years, resulted in over 40 fatalities, including young figure skaters and civil rights lawyer Kiah Duggins. The NTSB has recovered both aircraft’s black boxes for investigation.
Early reports suggest that staffing issues may have contributed to the accident, as one air traffic controller was handling both planes and helicopter traffic, a responsibility typically divided between two workers during busy hours.
