Fox News By Stepheny Price , Sarah Rumpf-Whitten , Alexandra Koch
Family and friends of those who lost their lives in the deadly American Airlines and Army helicopter collision are sharing tributes online as they wait for more answers about how this tragedy happened.
The midair crash occurred around 9 p.m. Wednesday, when an Army helicopter and an American Airlines plane collided near Reagan National Airport outside of Washington, D.C. All 67 people onboard both aircraft are presumed dead.
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves confirmed on X Tuesday night one of the Army pilots who died in the wreck was Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Eaves, a Brooksville native.
His wife, Carrie, also shared a message on Facebook about his death.
She asked for peace as all the victims’ families continue to grieve, and for the public to “refrain [from] negative comments on social media as these families’ children do not need to suffer more pain.”
“I am sure by now all of you have heard the news of the tragedy that has occurred in DC,” Carrie Eaves wrote on Facebook. “My husband was one of the pilots in the Black Hawk. We ask that you pray for our family and friends and for all the other families that are suffering today.”
She later shared another post, asking for friends to post photos of her late husband in the comment section.
“Let’s celebrate our loving memories,” she wrote.
Gov. Reeves noted he and his wife, Elee, are “praying for the victims’ families and first responders who are assisting.”
Tim Lilley identified his son, 28-year-old Sam Lilley, as first officer on American Airlines flight 5342.
“I was so proud when Sam became a pilot. 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,” Tim Lilley wrote in a Facebook post. “Sam was the First Officer on the flight that crashed in DC last night. He was doing great in his career and his personal life. He was engaged to get married in the fall.”
“It is so devastating to lose someone that is loved so much,” he added.
Scott Hubbard Jr., a friend and former colleague of Sam Lilley, wrote on Facebook: “I had the honor to help welcome him to one of his first flying jobs at SkyLens as the outgoing chief pilot due to starting my career at the airline. He was a phenomenal pilot. I never got to fly with him at the airlines as I changed companies but I was so proud to know him and consider him friend. My heart is heavy for his family and fiancé.”
“You left an everlasting impact on us all and we are grateful for you,” he added. “Blue Skies brother. And my condolences are with all the other crew members, the passengers, and military service members in the helicopter. This is a sad day.”
A flight attendant on board the flight has been identified as Ian Epstein.
“It is with a very heavy heart and extreme sadness that myself along with our children Hannah Epstein and Joanna Epstein and his sister Robbie Epstein Bloom and her husband Steven Bloom and nieces Andi and Dani inform you that Ian Epstein was one of the flight attendants on American Airlines Flight 5342 that collided last night when they were landing in DC,” Debi Epstein, Ian’s wife, wrote in a Facebook post. “Please pray for Ian and our family as we travel to DC. We will update when plans are made.”
Fox News Digital was told that Epstein, who grew up in Montreal, Quebec, had also recently become a flight attendant a few years ago, and loved traveling and his job.
“Ian Epstein was full of life. He loved being a flight attendant because he truly enjoyed traveling and meeting new people. But his true love was his family. He was a father, a stepfather, a husband and a brother! He will be truly missed,” Epstein’s family said in a statement sent to Fox News…
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