American Airlines pilot Jonathan Campos was among the 67 victims of the tragic January 29 collision between flight 5342 and a U.S. military helicopter near Washington, D.C. His uncle, John Lane, recalled their final conversation—a cheerful 10-minute call before Jonathan boarded, excited about an upcoming family cruise. Jonathan had long dreamed of being a pilot and worked hard to fly larger planes. Lane expressed both grief and pride, remembering him as a “good kid” who had achieved much.
The crash involved 64 passengers and four crew members on the flight and three crew members in the helicopter. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating.