The Tragic Last Words Of American Eagle Pilot Jonathan Campos To His Family As He Boarded The Aircraft Prior To The DC Plane Accident

In his concluding statements prior to the tragic plane accident in Washington, D.C., the captain of the ill-fated American Airlines flight conveyed his enthusiasm for an upcoming family trip scheduled for the following week.

During an interview conducted from his residence in Brooklyn, New York, Jonathan Campos’ grieving uncle, John Lane, recounted his nephew’s final words.

“Campos, aged 34, was truly ‘living his dream’ as a pilot, having played with toy airplanes during his childhood,” Lane remarked.

As reported by DailyMail.com, Lane stated, “He was such a wonderful young man.”

“I had a conversation with him while he was boarding the aircraft. We spoke for ten minutes. It is hard to comprehend. He sounded genuinely happy. He was eagerly anticipating a cruise next week on the Icon of the Seas, the cruise ship.” “Ten family members were set to fly to Florida to join him on this trip. It was meant to be a grand celebration.”

Just before 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Flight 5342, which was carrying 67 passengers and crew members, was nearing Reagan National Airport when it tragically collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter, resulting in a catastrophic fire 400 feet above the Potomac River.

Among the deceased were Campos, 29-year-old First Officer Samuel Lilley, who had recently become engaged and was only months away from a promotion to captain, as well as flight attendants Ian Epstein and Danasia Elder.

Lane informed DailyMail.com that Jonathan Campos “had a deep passion” for his career and had played with toy planes as a child. Lane expressed, “He adored flying; it was his aspiration. He was fulfilling his dream. He played with toy planes in his youth and aimed to qualify for larger aircraft. We are devastated right now. His mother is struggling to cope.”

To arrange for her son’s remains, Campos’ mother has departed from her home and is currently in Washington. According to Lane, the pilot resided in Orlando with his girlfriend and enjoyed playing football and basketball.He enrolled in flying school six years ago, having grown up in a modest apartment located in the working-class neighborhood of Coney Island, Brooklyn.

“He achieved so much in his life; we were all immensely proud of him.”

“We are all heartbroken. This is an immense loss.”

Campos pursued his higher education at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in New Jersey.

He majored in aeronautical science and graduated in 2015. The institution expressed its sorrow in a statement, indicating that its community was “deeply saddened” by the news of his passing.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, as well as the families and loved ones of all those impacted by this tragic incident,” the statement conveyed.

As reported by the Epic Flight Academy in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, Campos also trained there and earned his certification as a flight instructor.

The National Transportation Safety Board, the agency responsible for investigating the accident, has recovered the ‘Black Box’ recorders from both aircraft involved in the crash, which marks the most significant aviation disaster in the United States in 16 years.

The shocking death toll has led to the recovery of over 40 bodies from the icy waters, with police divers continuing their search for additional victims.

Among the young American figure skaters who lost their lives in the tragedy were Spencer Lane, 16, Brielle Beyer, 12, and Jinna Han, 13.

The flight also included the renowned Russian skating pair Vadim Naumov, 56, and Evgenia Shishkova, 53.

Kiah Duggins, 30, a civil rights attorney and former beauty pageant contestant, was returning to Washington after visiting her mother in her hometown of Wichita.

She was a graduate of Harvard Law School and had interned at the White House during the Let Girls Learn initiative led by former First Lady Michelle Obama.

Also on the ill-fated journey was Grace Maxwell, a 20-year-old biomedical engineering student at Cedarville University in Ohio.

In a tragic development, an entire family of four from Virginia was lost in the incident.He enrolled in flying school six years ago, having grown up in a modest apartment in the working-class neighborhood of Coney Island, Brooklyn.

“He achieved so much in his life; we were all immensely proud of him.”

“We are all heartbroken. This is such a significant loss.”

Campos pursued his studies at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in New Jersey. After 11-year-old Alydia and 14-year-old Everly participated in the 2025 US Figure Skating Championships, the Ashburn family was on their way back home from Wichita, Kansas.

Tragically, the two girls, along with their mother, Donna, and father, Peter, lost their lives in the horrific incident involving Flight 5342.

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Eaves has been identified as the pilot of the Black Hawk Army helicopter, alongside fellow soldier Ryan O’Hara, who served as the flight’s crew chief.

A preliminary internal investigation by the FAA, along with insights from insiders, has begun to reveal the critical failures that led to the aviation disaster.

According to The New York Times, one air traffic controller was left to oversee both plane and helicopter traffic that night, a task that should have been managed separately.

The report indicates that these duties are typically handled by two personnel from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Due to reduced traffic at the airport during the late evening hours, these responsibilities are generally consolidated and assigned to a single individual after 9:30 p.m.

However, it has been reported that a supervisor allowed one air traffic controller to leave early by merging these responsibilities before the designated cutoff time.

The FAA report noted that this staffing arrangement “was not normal for the time of day and volume of traffic.”