A groom-to-be pilot, the daughter of Indian immigrants, and figure skating champions are among the victims of the tragic midair collision over Washington, DC

All 67 passengers aboard the American Airlines regional jet and the US Army Black Hawk helicopter that collided Wednesday night are presumed dead, marking the deadliest aviation disaster in the US since 2001. As details continue to emerge and victims are identified, the magnitude of the loss grows heavier.

Sam Lilley, a 28-year-old pilot, was the first officer on the American Airlines flight. Minutes from landing, the jet collided with an Army helicopter, sending both aircraft plunging into the Potomac River. Lilley, engaged to be married this fall, was excelling in both his career and personal life. His grieving father, Timothy Lilley, a retired Army helicopter pilot, expressed his sorrow on Facebook, writing, "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."

Jonathan Campos, the captain of the flight, was also among the victims. A fellow pilot who knew him personally described him as an amazing individual who became a captain in 2022. "He loved flying. He loved his family," his relative, Edward Campos, shared.

Flight attendant Ian Epstein, 53, was also lost in the crash. His sister, Robbie Bloom, described him as a man who loved life, traveling, and his job. "He made friends everywhere he went," she said, adding that he leaves behind two children and two stepchildren.

Among the passengers was Asra Hussain Raza, 26, a consultant based in Washington, DC. A daughter of Indian immigrants, she graduated with honors from Indiana University in 2020 and married her college sweetheart in August 2023. Her father-in-law, Dr. Hashim Raza, described her as someone who always went out of her way for others, recalling how she often called him late at night to ensure he stayed awake on long drives home from work.

Four members of the UA Steamfitters Local 602 union also perished in the crash. The union confirmed their deaths, expressing heartbreak and pledging support for their families.

The tragedy deeply impacted the figure skating community, as six athletes, coaches, and family members were among the victims. Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, the 1994 world figure skating champions, were killed. The Russian-born pair built successful coaching careers in the US, and their son, Maxim Naumov, had just placed fourth at the US Figure Skating Championships. Also lost were skater Jinna Han and her mother, Jin Han, as well as skater Spencer Lane and his mother, Christine Lane.

Nancy Kerrigan, a US Olympic figure skater, visited the Skating Club of Boston to mourn alongside the community. Fighting back tears, she described the victims’ love for the sport and the profound impact their loss will have on the upcoming World Figure Skating Championships in March. "I’m not sure how to process it," she admitted, adding that not seeing the late coaches' familiar smiles will be difficult for everyone who knew them.

As the nation grapples with the magnitude of this loss, families and communities continue to mourn, remembering the lives and legacies of those who were tragically taken too soon.