The names have been released.
A wave of grief and support has spread across the country following the tragic midair collision of American Airlines Flight 5342 and a U.S. Army Black Hawk in Washington D.C., which claimed 67 lives. Friends and family continue to identify the victims, while search efforts are ongoing for missing bodies in the Potomac River. So far, Hearst Media has confirmed more than half of the victims, including well-known figure skating coaches Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, who were champions in their sport.
Among the victims was Casey Crafton, a father of three and graduate of Bob Jones University, and three individuals from Delaware, as confirmed by Sen. Chris Coons. These included Alexandr “Sasha” Kirsanov, a skating coach, and two young skaters, Sean Kay and Angela Yang. The loss has deeply affected their local communities, particularly in the skating world.
Other victims include Wendy Jo Shaffer, a mother from North Carolina, remembered for her kindness and devotion to her family. A GoFundMe campaign for her family has raised significant support. Sarah Lee Best and Elizabeth Anne Keys, both attorneys with a Washington-based law firm, were also identified as victims, along with Harvard-trained civil rights attorney and Howard University professor Kiah Duggins.
The pilot of the American Airlines flight, Capt. Jonathan Campos, was a graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, while his co-pilot, Samuel Lilley, was remembered by his family for his faith. A prayer vigil was held in Wichita, Kansas, where the flight originated, bringing together people from various communities to honor the victims and reflect on the fragility of life. Religious and community leaders expressed their condolences and emphasized the importance of unity in the face of such an unimaginable tragedy.
