2 found dead in JetBlue landing gear compartment after flight, airline says

(NEW YORK) — This year was full of first-of-its-kind stories that got Americans talking.

While this year saw Donald Trump’s historic conviction and election to a non-consecutive second term, here’s a look back at some of the most talked about stories of 2024 outside of politics, from Diddy’s arrest to the Menendez brothers’ fight for freedom.

Alaska door plug incident

Minutes after Alaska Airlines flight 1282 took off from Portland International Airport on Jan. 5, a door plug blew out, sparking chaos on the plane.

The flight was nearly full with the exception of a few seats; the two seats next to the missing door plug happened to be empty.

The Boeing 737 Max 9 safely made an emergency landing. No one was seriously injured.

An NTSB preliminary report found that, before the flight, four bolts designed to prevent the door plug from falling off the plane were missing.

A Boeing executive told ABC News this summer that the fuselage came to Boeing damaged from the supplier, and to fix the fuselage, the door plug needed to come off. Before they could get the plug back on, the plane needed to be moved; the overnight team put the door plug back on to seal the plane from the outdoor elements, but didn’t install the bolts because it wasn’t their job, the executive said. The first team never filled out the paperwork when they removed the door, so the next team didn’t know to put the bolts back on, the executive said.

The incident sparked intense scrutiny for Boeing that led to changes in the company, including a new CEO, the government mandating that Boeing slow down production, and increased oversight of the company’s safety and quality management systems.

Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse

On March 26, a container ship struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, collapsing the bridge and killing six construction workers who were filling potholes on the span. Two workers survived.

The crash affected entry into the Port of Baltimore for weeks, with the debris blocking entry for other ships. Crews worked to remove about 50,000 tons of steel, concrete and asphalt from the channel and from the container ship, the Department of Justice said.

The collapse is considered “one of the worst transportation disasters in recent memory,” Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Benjamin Mizer said.

In October, the operators of the vessel that destroyed the bridge agreed to pay nearly $102 million for costs stemming from the federal response.

According to the cost estimates provided by the Maryland government, the bridge’s reconstruction will cost between $1.7 billion and $1.9 billion, Shailen Bhatt, administrator for the Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration, said in May.

School shooter’s parents convicted

Jennifer and James Crumbley, the parents of Michigan high school shooter Ethan Crumbley, were sentenced to 10 to 15 years in prison in April after each was found guilty of four counts of involuntary manslaughter in separate trials.

The trials were a rare case of parents facing criminal charges over their role in a shooting carried out by their child.

Ethan Crumbley, who was 15 years old at the time of the 2021 shooting, was sentenced to life in prison without parole for killing four students at Oxford High School.

Prosecutors said Jennifer and James Crumbley ignored several warning signs in the days leading up to the shooting. The parents also bought their son the gun used in the shooting and failed to secure the weapon and limit their son’s access to it, prosecutors argued.

Alec Baldwin’s ‘Rust’ case dismissed, armorer convicted

A judge dismissed Alec Baldwin’s “Rust” case in July, on day three of his involuntary manslaughter trial for the fatal on-set shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

The defense said in its argument for dismissal that live ammunition that came into the hands of local law enforcement related to the investigation was “concealed” from them.

The judge agreed to dismiss, saying the state’s discovery violation regarding the late disclosure of a supplemental report on the ammunition evidence “injected needless delay into the proceedings,” approached “bad faith” and was “highly prejudicial to the defendant.”

Meanwhile, “Rust” armorer Hannah Gutierrez was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in March. She was found not guilty of tampering with evidence.

Prosecutors said Gutierrez repeatedly failed to maintain proper firearm safety, arguing her negligence led to Hutchins’ death.

Gutierrez was sentenced in April to 18 months in prison.

5 charged in Matthew Perry’s ketamine death

Five people were charged in August 2024 in connection with last year’s ketamine death of “Friends” star Matthew Perry.

Erik Fleming, who admitted in court documents that he distributed the ketamine that killed Perry, and the actor’s live-in assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, who admitted in court documents to administering the ketamine on the day Perry died, pleaded guilty.

Iwamasa and Fleming face up to 15 years and 25 years, respectively.

Two doctors are among those charged: Dr. Mark Chavez admitted to selling ketamine to Dr. Salvador Plasencia, a licensed medical doctor he has known for at least 20 years, with the understanding it would be sold to Perry, who was struggling with a ketamine addiction, according to prosecutors.

Chavez has pleaded guilty and faces up to 10 years in prison.

Two defendants pleaded not guilty: Plasencia and Jasveen Sangha, a woman allegedly known as “The Ketamine Queen,” who is accused of selling Perry the batch of ketamine that killed him, the Department of Justice said.

Sangha and Plasencia face charges including conspiracy to distribute ketamine and are set to go on trial in March 2025. If convicted of all charges, Sangha would face a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison. Plasencia would face up to 10 years for each ketamine-related count and up to 20 years for each records falsification count, according to prosecutors.

Georgia high school shooting

A 14-year-old student, Colt Gray, is accused of opening fire at Apalachee High School in Georgia on Sept. 4, killing two students and two teachers and injuring several others.

The suspect’s father, Colin Gray, is also facing charges for allegedly knowingly allowing his son to possess the weapon used in the shooting, according to the GBI.

Investigators believe the teen received the AR-style gun used in the shooting as a Christmas present from his father, according to sources.

The father and son have both pleaded not guilty.

Hurricanes Helene and Milton

On Sept. 26, Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida as a powerful Category 4 storm.

As Helene moved north, it wreaked havoc in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee.

Helene destroyed homes and roads, stranded residents without phone service and water, and claimed the lives of nearly 250 people throughout the Southeast.

Helene is now the deadliest storm in North Carolina’s history. Western North Carolina, including the city of Asheville, was especially hard hit.

Weeks later, on Oct. 9, Hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida as a Category 3 storm, bringing tornadoes, powerful winds and flooding rains. Hurricane Milton killed at least 23 people in Florida.

Diddy arrested

Music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs was arrested in New York City in September and charged with sex trafficking by force, transportation to engage in prostitution and racketeering conspiracy.

Prosecutors allege he ran an “enterprise that he engaged in sex trafficking, forced labor or, kidnapping, arson and other crimes.”

Combs is accused of using violence, threats and coercion to force women to engage in sex acts with male prostitutes, sometimes lasting days and often recorded. Combs allegedly called the activity “freak offs.”

Federal prosecutors said Combs “abused, threatened, and coerced women and others around him to fulfill his sexual desires, protect his reputation, and conceal his conduct.”

Combs has pleaded not guilty. His trial is set for May 2025.

The music mogul is also facing numerous civil lawsuits with claims mirroring the criminal allegations.

Menendez brothers’ fight for freedom

The notorious Menendez brothers case came back into the spotlight this year when Netflix released a scripted series and a documentary, both of which added momentum to Erik and Lyle Menendez’s push to be released from prison.

The brothers — who were convicted in the 1990s for the 1989 murders of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez — have three possible paths to freedom.

One path is through resentencing. The Los Angeles County district attorney announced in October that he was recommending the brothers’ sentence of life without the possibility of parole be removed, and they should instead be sentenced for murder, which would be a sentence of 50 years to life. Because both brothers were under 26 at the time of the crimes, with the new sentence, they would be eligible for parole immediately.

The DA’s office said its resentencing recommendations take into account factors including the defendants’ ages, psychological trauma or physical abuse that contributed to carrying out the crime and their rehabilitation in prison.

The second path is their habeas corpus petition, which was filed last year for a review of new evidence not presented at trial: a letter Erik Menendez wrote before the murders detailing his allegations that his father sexually abused him; and a new victim who has come forward alleging he was also sexually assaulted by Jose Menendez.

The third path is the brothers’ request for clemency, which they’ve submitted to California Gov. Gavin Newsom.

The brothers’ next court hearing is in January 2025.

Delphi trial

In November, Delphi, Indiana, resident Richard Allen was found guilty in the murders of two teenage girls, Abby Williams and Libby German, who were killed on a local hiking trail in 2017.

The mysterious case captivated the nation for years. As police searched for answers, they released a clip of the unknown suspect’s voice — a recording of him saying “down the hill” — which was recovered from Libby’s phone. Police also released a grainy image of the suspect on the trail found on Libby’s phone.

Allen was arrested in 2022. He admitted to police he was on the trail that day, but he denied any involvement in the crime.

A major focus of Allen’s trial was his multiple confessions in jail to corrections officers, a psychologist and his wife. The defense argued Allen was in a psychotic state when he made the numerous confessions.

Allen was sentenced on Dec. 20 to 130 years in prison.

UnitedHealthcare CEO killing

UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was gunned down outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel on Dec. 4 while he was on his way to an investors conference.

Thompson’s murder ignited online anger at the health insurance industry and some people online celebrated the suspect.

The slaying also sparked a massive manhunt for the masked gunman, with the NYPD releasing images of the suspect found via surveillance cameras.

On Dec. 9, suspect Luigi Mangione was apprehended after he was spotted at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania.

The ghost gun allegedly in his possession when he was arrested was matched to three shell casings recovered at the scene of the murder, the NYPD said. Fingerprints recovered from a water bottle and a Kind bar near the crime scene were also been matched to Mangione, police said.

Mangione, a 26-year-old Ivy League graduate, allegedly had a spiral notebook detailing plans about how to eventually kill the CEO, according to law enforcement officials.

One passage allegedly said, “What do you do? You whack the CEO at the annual parasitic bean-counter convention,” the officials said.

Mangione is in custody in New York City where he’s facing state and federal charges. The federal charges make him eligible for the death penalty.

ABC News’ Meredith Deliso, Clara McMichael and Nadine El-Bawab contributed to this report.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

(WASHINGTON) — Like a radioactive hot potato, a solution to America’s growing stockpile of nuclear waste keeps getting passed around.

The issue lands before the Supreme Court on Wednesday in a dispute from Texas over the federal government’s authority to allow temporary storage of spent nuclear fuel at privately owned facilities far from reactors.

The justices are being asked to reject the arrangement, even though it’s far from clear where the highly toxic waste would go.

Congress remains at an impasse over plans first approved more than 40 years ago to hold all of the country’s nuclear waste at a single permanent, underground federal facility, which has never been completed.

There are more than 91,000 metric tons of radioactive waste from U.S. commercial nuclear power plants, according to the Energy Department. The waste remains dangerous for thousands of years and must be carefully managed.

Plaintiffs in the high court case, including the state of Texas and a group of landowners, are seeking to block Nuclear Regulatory Commission approval of a private nuclear waste storage facility in the Permian Basin, an area rich with oil deposits and limited sources of safe drinking water near the New Mexico border.

Congress in 1954 gave the commission near exclusive control over the possession and transfer of nuclear material in the U.S., including the ability to issue licenses to private entities to store it in its various forms.

In 1982, lawmakers authorized creation of a federal nuclear waste site, later designated as Yucca Mountain in Nevada, and encouraged interim waste storage by private energy companies at power plants while construction moved forward.

Texas argues that because neither law makes explicit mention of storing nuclear waste at private facilities, far from the reactors where it was generated, the commission lacks the authority to issue a license.

A federal appeals court agreed, blocking construction.

“What to do with the nation’s spent nuclear fuel implicates a host of difficult technological, environmental, and political considerations. Thankfully, that policy debate is not this Court’s concern,” Texas argues in its brief to the high court. “Because Congress has decided how to handle spent nuclear fuel, all that matters is that Yucca Mountain is not in Texas and [a private storage company] is not the federal government.”

The commission insists its broad power includes a clear right to authorize temporary, privately run nuclear storage sites and that they are an imperative for the nation.

Roughly 20% of the energy consumed in the U.S. is nuclear powered, resulting in more than 2,000 metric tons of radioactive waste every year. It all has to go somewhere.

“Such storage is essential to continued operations because no currently available or reasonably foreseeable reactor and fuel cycle technology developments have the potential to fundamentally alter the waste management challenge this nation confronts over at least the next several decades,” the government argues in court documents.

The contested site in Texas, which would be run by Interim Storage Partners, had been approved by the commission to accept up to 5,000 metric tons of nuclear waste per year for 40 years.

The company told the justices in its legal brief that invalidating government authority to send nuclear waste to privately owned sites would be “destabilizing and potentially devastating to a critical industry at a critical time.”

“Utilities are forced to deal with spent nuclear fuel storage issues on a larger scale than anyone would have liked or anticipated,” the company wrote.

A ruling in favor of the government would allow the Texas storage facility to move forward. A decision in favor of the state could scuttle the plan and upend previously approved licenses for at least a dozen other privately owned nuclear waste storage locations.

The Supreme Court is expected to hand down a decision by the end of June.

Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

(WASHINGTON) — Sixty-seven people are dead after a regional jet collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter Wednesday night over Washington, D.C., officials said, the nation’s first major commercial airline crash since 2009.

The aircraft went down in the frigid Potomac River, breaking into multiple pieces. There were no survivors.

There were 64 passengers aboard the plane and three Army soldiers in the helicopter.

Among the victims were 14 people who were returning home from a national figure skating development camp in Wichita, according to Doug Zeghibe, the CEO and executive director for the Skating Club of Boston.

“Skating is a tight-knit community where parents and kids come together six or seven days a week to train and work together. Everyone is like family,” Zeghibe said in a statement.

Here’s what we know about the victims so far:

Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova

Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova, a married couple, were killed in the crash, according to the Skating Club of Boston.

Naumov and Shishkova, who were figure skating coaches, were world champions in pairs competition in 1994.

They joined the club in 2017, Zeghibe said.

Jinna Han and Jin Han

Jinna Han, a figure skater, and Jin Han, her mother, were killed in the crash, according to the Skating Club of Boston.

Spencer Lane and Christine Lane

Skater Spencer Lane and his mother, Christine Lane, were among the victims, the Skating Club of Boston said.

Doug Lane, Spencer’s father and Christine’s husband, told WCVB he and his wife adopted Spencer from South Korea.

Spencer Lane, 16, “just had amazing athletic abilities,” and once he got interested in something, “you couldn’t stop him,” his father said.

The teen decided to try skating three years ago after seeing Nathan Chen in the Olympics and “committed himself to it,” his dad said.

Christine Lane, 49, who worked as a graphic designer, was “such a beautiful person” who “just connected with everyone,” he said. She had just gotten her real estate license, and was also a talented quilter and volunteered at a local animal rescue, he added.

His wife would “do everything for her children, including fly to Wichita, Kansas, for a week,” Doug Lane said. “She just gave parenting her all.”

Alexandr Kirsanov

Alexandr Kirsanov was a coach of two of the youth ice skaters on board, his wife, Natalya Gudin, told ABC News.

“I lost everything,” Gudin said. “I lost my husband, I lost my students, I lost my friends.”

Gudin said Kirsanov traveled with two youth skaters to attend a development camp in Kansas this week. Gudin, who also coaches students with her husband in Delaware, said she stayed home to be with their other skaters.

She last spoke with her husband as he boarded the flight on Wednesday, she said.

“I need my husband back,” Gudin said. “I need his body back.”

Samuel Lilley

Samuel Lilley, the first officer on board American Airlines Flight 5342, recently got engaged, his sister, Tiffany Gibson, told ABC News.

“He was an amazing person. He loved people. He loved adventure. He loved traveling. He was excited. He was young. He was so young, and he was excited about life and his future and getting a dog and a house and kids. And it’s just, this is just tragic,” she said.

Samuel Lilley’s former brother-in-law, Greg Gibson, remembered him for his passion for flying and willingness to help others.

Samuel Lilley died on the same flight path his father, Timothy Lilley, flew for years. Timothy Lilley flew Black Hawk helicopters for the Army, transporting passengers over the Potomac River from his base in Virginia.

“We were stationed in Virginia, and [Timothy Lilley] flew that same route back and forth to the Pentagon, over and over and over again until he retired,” Tiffany Gibson said.

Ian Epstein

The family of Ian Epstein, the flight attendant onboard American Airlines Flight 5342, is remembering him as a cherished father, husband, brother and stepfather.

“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. The family appreciates the outpouring of love and support we’ve received, but at this time we would ask for privacy as we process and grieve our loss,” his family said in a statement.

Wendy Jo Shaffer

The family of victim, Wendy Jo Shaffer confirmed she had been on the plane.

“We are devastated. Words cannot truly express what Wendy Jo meant as a daughter, a sister, a friend, a wife and most importantly, a mother. The family is requesting privacy at this time,” the family said in a statement.

Brielle Beyer and Justyna Beyer

Brielle Beyer, 12, and her mother, 42-year-old Justyna, were both killed in the crash, according to Andy Beyer, Brielle’s father and Justyna’s husband.

Andy Beyer is left with the couple’s 6-year-old son, he said.

He said his wife and daughter were returning from the U.S. Figure Skating National Development Camp in Wichita, Kansas.

Brielle was a member of the Skating Club of Northern Virginia and beat cancer when she was just 4 months old.

“She was just such a fighter in everything she did,” Andy Beyer said of his daughter, in an interview with ABC News. “She just lived life to the fullest with everything.”

He added, “She was so proud of herself in figure skating for the progress she had made … Making that team was one of her life goals. And she achieved it. And she was just so, so proud of herself.”

He remembered his daughter’s passion and beautiful singing voice.

“She just lit up the house with her wonderful voice,” he said.

Andy Beyer said his wife and daughter had been away for six days for the figure skating camp.

“I missed them… Figure skating at that level, it’s a lifestyle,” he said. “It’s a full family commitment.”

Elizabeth Keys

Elizabeth Keys was a Washington-based attorney who caught an early flight home to go on a date for her birthday with her long-term boyfriend David Seidman, who remembered her for being the person who always “pushed you to be the best version of yourself.”

Keys graduated from Tufts University in 2014 after spending four years on the varsity sailing team, her mother, Mary Keys, said in a statement.

Keys graduated from Georgetown University Law Center in 2020 and worked as an attorney for Wilkinson Stekloff.

She and her boyfriend were devoted parents to their Yorkshire terrier, Tucker.

“She loved deeply and was deeply loved. Liz was a warm, generous woman. She was so fun — and funny!” her mom said in a statement. “Liz had a sharp wit and appreciated it in others. Gatherings were always better when Liz was there; she was filled with light and joy. Liz was a dear friend to so many, offering her best self to them all.”

“Elizabeth was strong and fearless — she embraced life at full speed,” her mom said. “Liz was always surrounded by friends on her ski trips out West, where she described skiing as ‘flying,’ and frequently visited her favorite place, Hawaii, to hike and relax on the beach. Every weekend was full: Liz and David especially loved hosting their friends around their fire pit at their home in DC.”

Sean Kay

Sean Kay was traveling with his skating coach Alexandr Kirsanov after attending the U.S. Figure Skating’s National Development Camp. His death was confirmed in a statement by Delaware Sen. Chris Coons.

Angela Yang

Angela Yang was traveling with her skating coach Alexandr Kirsanov after attending the U.S. Figure Skating’s National Development Camp. Her death was confirmed in a statement by Delaware Sen. Chris Coons.

Casey Crafton

Casey Crafton was a father to three sons and husband from Salem, Connecticut. His death was confirmed in a statement by Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont.

Grace Maxwell

Grace Maxwell was an engineering student from Wichita, Kansas who was aboard American Airlines 5432, according to a statement from Cedarville University.

University president Thomas White described her as a “thoughtful, quiet student leader” who helped teach other undergraduates about engineering.

She recently signed up to create a hand-stabilizing device to help a disabled child feed himself without assistance from others.

Olivia Ter

Olivia Ter, 12, was a treasured member of the Tucker Road Ice Rink in Fort Washington, Maryland, who inspired her peers and coaches, according to a statement from the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission.

She was one of four elite skaters from her region to attend the U.S. Figure Skating National Development Camp in Wichita and earned praise for her ” talent, determination and sportsmanship.”

“The impact of Olivia’s life will continue to resonate in our youth sports community, and she will be sorely missed,” stated Bill Tyler, director of the commission’s Department of Parks and Recreation in Prince George’s County, Maryland.

Kiah Duggins

Kiah Duggins was a civil rights attorney and an incoming Howard University professor.

Duggins was a Wichita native and attended Wichita State University, received a Fulbright grant, attended law school at Harvard and worked as a civil rights attorney.

In the fall, Duggins was planning to begin teaching as a professor at Howard University School of Law.

“As a civil rights lawyer, she dedicated her career to fighting against unconstitutional policing and unjust money bail practices in Tennessee, Texas and Washington, D.C,” a statement from the university said.

Duggins worked to challenge police misconduct, fight cash bail policies, and pursued prison industrial complex abolition, according to her professional biography. She also was a White House intern during the administration of former President Barack Obama.

Lindsey Fields

Lindsey Fields, the president-elect of the National Association of Biology Teachers, was flying from Wichita to D.C. to “advocate for excellence in life science education,” according to the organization.

She was a professor and biology department chair at Butler Community College in Kansas, where she taught anatomy and physiology.

She loved to garden and had a keen interest in wildlife, including restoring native prairie plants, according to her professional biography.

Butler Community College said in a statement, “With broken hearts we send our condolences to her family and friends, and the students, faculty and staff whom we know without a doubt were positively impacted by Lindsey’s energy and dedication to her craft.”

“Lindsey was a colleague, friend, and educator who dedicated her wisdom and talents to changing students’ lives every day,” the statement continued. “We owe her much gratitude for sharing her light with us and we will forever feel this loss.”

“This is a tremendous loss,” the National Association of Biology Teachers added. “Please keep Lindsey, the other victims, and their families in your hearts.”

Donna Smojice Livingston, Peter Livingston, Everly Livingston and Alydia Livingston

Donna Smojice Livingston, her husband Peter Livingston, and their daughters Everly Livingston and Alydia Livingston all died in the crash, according to Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Everly and Alydia were the famed duo behind the “Ice Skating Sisters” Instagram account, and their last photo depicted them near the ice in Wichita.

Jesse Pitcher

Jesse Pitcher, 30, was one of five members of the United Association of Union Plumbers and Pipefitters killed in the crash, the union said. He was a member of UA Local 5.

“May God bless each of our fallen Brothers, and all those who knew and loved them,” the union said in a statement Friday.

Charles ‘Charlie’ McDaniel

Charles McDaniel, 44, was one of five members of the United Association of Union Plumbers and Pipefitters killed in the crash, the union said. He was a member of UA Local 602.

Jonathan Boyd

Jonathan Boyd, 40, was one of five members of the United Association of Union Plumbers and Pipefitters killed in the crash, the union said. He was a member of UA Local 602.

Michael ‘Mikey’ Stovall

Michael Stovall, 40, was one of five members of the United Association of Union Plumbers and Pipefitters killed in the crash, the union said. He was a member of UA Local 602.

Alexander ‘Alex’ Huffman

Alexander Huffman, 34, was one of five members of the United Association of Union Plumbers and Pipefitters killed in the crash, the union said. He was a member of UA Local 602.

Ryan O’Hara

One of the three soldiers on the helicopter during the training mission was identified as Staff Sgt. Ryan Austin O’Hara, 28, of Lilburn, Georgia, the Army said.

O’Hara had been an Army helicopter repairer since July 2014 and he served in Afghanistan in 2017.

“His awards include Army Commendation Medal w/C Device, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal x4, Army Good Conduct Medal x3, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with campaign star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Aviation Badge and Senior Aviation Badge,” the Army said.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp offered his condolences to the families of both victims from Georgia: O’Hara and Lilley, who was the first officer on board the American Airlines flight.

“Both of these young Georgians shared a passion for flight and for serving others, and this terrible tragedy is that much more difficult knowing their lives were cut so unexpectedly short,” he said in an X post. “Marty, the girls, and I ask that all Georgians join us in keeping their loved ones in our thoughts and prayers.”

Andrew Eaves

Another soldier on the helicopter was identified as Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves, 39, of Great Mills, Maryland, the Army said.

Eaves served in the Navy from 2007 to 2017 and then transitioned to an Army UH-60 pilot.

“His awards include Army Commendation Medal x3, Navy Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Navy Achievement Medal x3, Navy “E” Ribbon x2, Navy Good Conduct Medal x3, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Navy & Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon and Army Aviator Badge,” the Army said.

Sarah Best

Victim Sarah Best graduated summa cum laude from Vanderbilt University with a double major in neuroscience and classical languages, and then graduated summa cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania Law school, said her sister, Jessica Best.

She clerked for judges at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York before joining the law firm Wilkinson Stekloff last fall.

“She was always formidable. She was highly intelligent and immersed herself until she emerged as the best,” Jessica Best said in a statement.

“But more than this, Sarah was unusually perceptive, empathetic and supportive. When I was stressed studying for tests, she drew good luck signs and taped them to my bedroom door so I could see them in the morning,” she said.

“Up to the very day she died, my sisters and I were texting each other in our group thread, as we did everyday, multiple times a day, and even as the youngest one of us, she was always providing sage advice,” Jessica Best said.

She said her sister participated in Teach for America and kept a card from her students framed in her apartment. The message in the card said she showed her students “that there is always a good in life … there really is not another teacher like you.”

Jessica Best said the last time she saw her sister was when Sarah threw her baby shower in August.

“I was so proud when guests who only met her briefly told me how brilliant and amazing she was, and that they have never met anyone like her,” she said.

Jessica Best said her son “will never meet his incredible auntie Sarah. But I will tell him about her … and I’ll be the better person that she has always encouraged us to be.”

Melissa Nicandri

Melissa Nicandri, 28, “was everything that anyone could hope for with a daughter — beautiful, smart, funny, kind, and generous,” the Nicandri family said in a statement.

“Her future was so bright,” the family said. “Melissa had an adventurous spirit and will be missed forever.”

Nicandri worked for the financial company Moody’s and died alongside a colleague, Chris Collins, according to the company.

“They leave an immeasurable void in our community, and our hearts go out to their families, friends and colleagues, as well as all those grieving from this terrible tragedy,” a Moody’s spokesperson said.

Chris Collins

Massachusetts native Chris Collins was a beloved husband, son, brother and uncle, the Collins family said in a statement.

“Chris was a true adventurer with a passion for the outdoors and a lifelong love of animals,” the family said. “His talent as a financial professional brought him to New York City, where he fell in love with a city girl, his cherished wife Jen. While Jen and Chris built a joy-filled city life together, Chris’ call to the outdoors never wavered, whether it was hiking Lögberg in Iceland, camping and rafting in the Great Smoky Mountains, skiing and snowboarding, and most of all, enjoying the coastal outdoor landscape of Brewster, MA and the rest of Cape Cod.”

“Chris’ kindness and compassion extended to everyone, whether you were a family member, friend, or one of the many strangers he connected with during his outdoor adventures,” the family said. “He will be in our hearts forever.”

Collins worked for Moody’s and died alongside his colleague, Melissa Nicandri, according to the company.

“The Moody’s family mourns the loss of two of our best, Chris Collins and Melissa Nicandri,” the company said. “Chris and Melissa were cherished colleagues who embodied our values and enriched our lives with kindness and warmth.”

Jonathan Campos

Capt. Jonathan Campos was the pilot aboard American Airlines Flight 5342. His death was confirmed in a statement from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, where he graduated in 2015.

He also served as a flight instructor at the Epic Flight Academy in New Smyrna Beach, Florida.

“He was a skilled and dedicated pilot with an undeniable passion for flying,” Epic Flight Academy said in a statement. “Our deepest condolences go out to Jonathan’s family, friends, and all those who lost their lives or were impacted by this devastating tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this incredibly difficult time.”

Roger Haynos, Stephanie Haynos and Cory Haynos

Cory Haynos and his parents Roger and Stephanie Haynos died in the crash, according to their cousin Matthew Alan LaRaviere.

“Cory was a driven young man like his father and grandfather and it showed up in his skating, and we all expected to see Cory in the Olympics in the future,” LaRaviere said. “When Cory would fall down on the ice when he was just getting started skating, Roger would tell us that Cory would get up crying, but ready to try again. He would not quit.”

Roger Haynos was a “dream dad,” LaRaviere said. “Roger always had a sense of humor and never seemed to take like too serious (in a good way) and was an inspiration to all who knew him best. Roger & Stephanie’s life was all about their kids. Roger also was an avid fan of horse racing and an owner of race horses over the years.”

Roger and Stephanie Haynos are survived by a daughter in college who was not on the flight.

Jonathan ‘Jon’ Boyd

Jonathan “Jon” Boyd’s death was confirmed in a statement from the Southern Maryland Sabres Hockey Club, where his son Reed plays. “Jon will be deeply missed by all who knew him, and we stand together as a community in support of his family,” the organization said.

Rebecca Lobach

Capt. Rebecca Lobach was identified by the Army as a soldier in the Black Hawk helicopter.

Lobach, of Durham, North Carolina, was a six-year Army member, who was assigned to the 12th Aviation Battalion at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, according to the Army.

“Rebecca was many things. She was a daughter, sister, partner, and friend,” her family said in a statement. “She was a servant, a caregiver, an advocate. Most of all, she loved and was loved. Her life was short, but she made a difference in the lives of all who knew her. Our hearts break for the other families who have lost loved ones in this national tragedy and we mourn with them.”

Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.