Ian Epstein, a flight attendant aboard the doomed American Airlines passenger plane that collided with the army Black Hawk helicopter, was granted a fitting salute at his home airport.

American Airlines flight 5342 from Wichita collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 29, 2025. Authorities said no one survived, including a Charlotte-based crew. Here is ongoing coverage from The Charlotte Observer.

The flight attendants of a passenger jet that collided with an Army helicopter near Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C. Wednesday were based out of Charlotte, an Association of Flight Attendants spokesperson confirmed to Axios.

Video shows an American Airlines plane carrying the body of flight attendant Ian Epstein who died in January 29 midair collision near Washington’s Reagan National Airport, passing under a water cannon salute.