First victims of tragic American Airlines disaster named and pictured

Following the tragic American Airlines disaster, the first victims have been named and pictured, after authorities revealed that there are assumed to be no survivors.

The incident occurred over Washington D.C. on Wednesday night, as American Airlines flight 5342 collided with a military Black Hawk helicopter.

The crash, which occurred over the frigid Potomac River, is one of the deadliest commercial aviation disasters in the United States in more than two decades.

All of the 64 people on the plane, and three on the helicopter, are now presumed dead.

Here’s what we know about some of the victims:

Spencer Lane and Christine Lane
Spencer Lane, a rising star from the Skating Club of Boston believed to be 16 years old, was among the skaters on board. “Spencer, in the best way possible, was a crazy kid,” said the club’s CEO, Doug Zeghibe.

“Highly talented, has not been skating that long, and has been rocketing to the top of the sport. Very fun, very cerebral.” His mother, Christine Lane, was also on the flight, per the New York Post.

Jinna Han and Jin Han
Fellow teen skater Jinna Han, 15, was also on board with her mother, Jin Han. “Jinna, just a wonderful kid. A great athlete, great competitor. Loved by all,” Zeghibe said. He also acknowledged the sacrifices both mothers made for their children’s careers.

Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov
Renowned Russian-born coaches Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, a married pair who won the 1994 World Figure Skating Championships, were also passengers.

They had spent decades coaching young skaters in New England. Their son, competitive skater Maxim Naumov, was not on the plane.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov extended condolences following the confirmation of their deaths.

“Unfortunately, we see that this sad information is being confirmed,” he said. “We are sorry and send condolences to the families and friends who lost those of our fellow citizens who died in the plane crash.”

The Livingston Family
Donna and Peter Livingston, along with their daughters Everly, 11, and Alydia, 14, were among the victims. The girls, members of the Washington Figure Skating Club, had recently attended the U.S. Figure Skating Championships.


Wendy Shaffer
Shaffer, a mother of two, was remembered as “always smiling” by her friend, FOX News correspondent Bill Melugin. Her husband, Nate, added: “She was not just beautiful on the outside, but was a truly amazing woman through and through.”

Grace Maxwell
A 20-year-old college student, Maxwell was returning to Cedarville University in Ohio after attending her grandfather’s funeral.

Casey Crafton
Crafton, a Connecticut father of three and youth soccer coach, was described as a “dedicated father, husband, and community member.”

Kiah Duggins
Duggins, a former Miss Kansas contestant and aspiring law professor, had been preparing to teach at Howard University in the fall.

Pergentino Malabed, Jr.
Malabed, a Philippine police colonel, was among the international victims.

Vikesh Patel
Patel, a longtime GE Aerospace employee, had been with the company for over a decade. “Our hearts are with his family and all those impacted by this horrific accident,” GE CEO Larry Culp said.

Bob and Lori Schrock
The Kansas couple had been traveling to visit their daughter at Villanova University when they were killed.

Inna Volyanskaya
Inna Volyanskaya, a former Soviet Union figure skating competitor, was among those killed. More recently, she had been a coach at Ashburn Ice House in Virginia.

“Inna also had a lot of success internationally achieving gold, silver, and bronze medals in various international competitions,” the club’s website states.

Ashburn Ice House General Manager Rob Lorenzen confirmed her passing to NBC Washington.

Michael Stovall and Jesse Pitcher
Michael Stovall, a Maryland native, was returning home from a duck hunting trip in Kansas when the plane crashed.

The 40-year-old father was a steamfitter and Baltimore Orioles fan who enjoyed skiing and outdoor adventures, according to The New York Times.

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Asra Hussain
Asra Hussain, a 26-year-old Indiana University graduate, sent a haunting final text message to her husband, Hamaad Raza, just moments before the fatal crash.

“We are landing in 20 minutes,” she wrote.

Angela Yang, Sean Kay, and Alexandr “Sasha” Kirsanov
Young figure skaters Angela Yang and Sean Kay, along with their coach Alexandr “Sasha” Kirsanov, were on board.

Kirsanov’s wife, Natalia Gudin, confirmed their deaths to the News Journal.

“We always use American Airlines when we go to competition,” she said. “This time they go without me, and all of them are gone.”

More than a dozen figure skaters had been traveling back from the event in Wichita.

Elizabeth Anne Keys and Sarah Lee Best
Elizabeth Anne Keys, 33, was returning to Washington, D.C., from a work trip when she was killed. She died on her birthday, her longtime partner and family confirmed.

“She was just the best partner and so special, had such a sharp wit, and just really pushed everyone around her to be the best version of themselves,” her partner of six years, David Seidman, told The Enquirer.

Keys worked as an attorney in Washington, D.C. Her colleague, Sarah Lee Best, had recently joined their firm and had served as a judicial law clerk in several federal courts, including the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

The crew onboard American Airlines flight 5342:Sam Lilley, First Officer
Sam Lilley, 28, was one of the pilots aboard the American Airlines flight. “I was so proud when Sam became a pilot,” his father, Tim Lilley, wrote in a tribute. Lilley was engaged to be married in the fall.

Ian Epstein, Flight Attendant
Epstein worked for PSA Airlines, a subsidiary of American Airlines. His family confirmed his passing in a heartfelt social media post. “Please pray for Ian and our family as we travel to DC,” wrote a relative.

Danasia Elder, Flight Attendant
Elder’s brother-in-law, Brandon Payne, described her as “a great wife, a great parent, a great friend.” She leaves behind a husband and two children.

Jonathan Campos, Captain
Campos, a pilot for PSA Airlines, had dreamed of flying since he was three years old. “I think he wanted to be free, and be able to fly and soar like a bird,” said his aunt, Beverly Lane.

Those on the military Black Hawk helicopter:Ryan O’Hara, Crew Chief
O’Hara, a Georgia native and graduate of Parkview High School, was identified as one of the Army personnel on the Black Hawk helicopter, per WSBTV.

“Ryan is fondly remembered as a guy who would fix things around the [ROTC] gym as well as a vital member of the Rifle Team,” his high school JROTC program wrote.

Andrew Eaves, Chief Warrant Officer 2
Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves confirmed the death of Eaves, a native of Brooksville, Mississippi. “Mississippi is mourning the loss of Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Eaves,” Reeves wrote. His wife, Carrie, mourned his passing, saying: “We ask for peace while we grieve.”

Four young figure skaters and their parents were also among the victims:

Brielle Magdalena Beyer, 12, and her mother, Justyna Magdalena Beyer, 42, of Aldie, Virginia. Brielle had recently celebrated her birthday, according to NBC Connecticut.

Edward Zhou, 16, and his parents, Kaiyan and Joe Zhou, from Fairfax, Virginia. Zhou was remembered for his fearless skating and positive attitude. “He always smiled and laughed every time he fell,” said The Skating Lesson podcast.

Franco Aparicio and his father, Luciano Aparicio, were traveling to an elite figure skating camp for the second year in a row.

Cory Haynos, 16, had stayed in Wichita for an additional training session before returning home to Fairfax with his parents, Stephanie and Roger Haynos. Haynos had recently impressed coaches by landing a triple Axel at the National Development Camp, The New York Times reported.

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