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By Gabe Whisnant and Joshua Rhett Miller
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The pilots of the American Airlines plane that collided with a U.S. Army helicopter late Wednesday night have been identified.
Jonathan Campos, 34, was the captain of American Airlines Flight 5342 when an Army helicopter apparently flew into its path as it prepared for landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington, D.C., CNN reported.
Campos had been a captain at the airline since 2022, a colleague told the network.
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Several of Campos' relatives traveled Thursday to Washington, his aunt told WKMG. He graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in central Florida, the station reported.
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Campos, of Ormond Beach, Florida, also worked as a helicopter pilot and a certified aviation mechanic, according to Federal Aviation Administration records cited by the station.
Campos previously worked as a flight instructor at Epic Flight Academy, which is based in New Smyrna Beach, Florida.
"He was a skilled and dedicated pilot with an undeniable passion for flying," the company said in a statement Thursday. "Our deepest condolences go out to Jonathan's family, friends, and all those who lost their lives or were impacted by this devastating tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this incredibly difficult time."
Sam Lilley, the second pilot in command, started his flight training in 2019 and was engaged to be married, his father, Timothy Lilley, told Fox 5 Atlanta.
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"This is undoubtedly the worst day of my life," Timothy Lilley, who is also a pilot, told the station.
Sam Lilley, 28, had ties to Savannah, Georgia, and Charlotte, North Carolina, records show.
Timothy Lilley said he was in New York when he realized his son was in the cockpit of the jet at the time of the mid-air collision. His son later failed to check in with his family, Lilley said.
Lilley said he spent Wednesday evening at the airport while awaiting additional information about his son.
In a Facebook post early Thursday, Lilley said he was "so proud" when his son became a pilot.
"Now it hurts so bad I can't even cry myself to sleep," Lilley wrote. "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."
Lilley was the first officer, or second pilot in command, on the flight, his father said.
"It is so devastating to lose someone that is loved so much," Lilley wrote in the post.
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Lilley graduated from Georgia Southern University, school officials confirmed Thursday.
"The Georgia Southern community is deeply saddened by the loss of one of our outstanding alumni, Sam Lilley ('18), who embodied the Eagle spirit and soared beyond in his career," the school said in a statement to Newsweek. "We will continue to keep Sam's family and friends in our thoughts as they grieve this tragedy."
Ian Epstein, who worked as a flight attendant, also died during the crash, relatives confirmed on social media.
"Please pray for Ian and our family as we travel to DC," Epstein's ex-wife, Debi Epstein, wrote on Facebook. "We will update when plans are made."
There were 60 passengers and four crew members on the jet, a Bombardier CRJ700, officials said. Three service members were on a training flight on the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. None are believed to have survived the Wednesday night crash into the frigid Potomac River.
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