ORMOND BEACH, Fla. – A Central Florida man and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University graduate was a pilot on the American Airlines jet that was involved in a tragic crash Wednesday with an Army helicopter near Washington, leaving all 67 people involved dead, according to the flight academy where he earned his instructor rating.
Capt. Jonathan Campos, 34, of Ormond Beach, received his Certified Flight Instructor rating with Epic Flight Academy, which has locations across the country, including in New Smyrna Beach.
“We are heartbroken to learn that Jonathan Campos was a pilot aboard the PSA Airlines flight involved in the tragic accident last night in Washington, D.C. Jonathan earned his Certified Flight Instructor rating with us and served as a valued flight instructor here. He was a skilled and dedicated pilot with an undeniable passion for flying. 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,” Epic Flight Academy posted on Facebook.
Campos' aunt spoke to News 6 and said that several family members have traveled to Washington.
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Embry-Riddle, located in Daytona Beach, also issued a statement about Campos.
“Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Captain Jonathan Campos (Aeronautical Science, ‘15). Our thoughts are with his family and the families and loved ones of all impacted by this tragic accident,” the school said.
Campos was also a helicopter pilot and a certified aviation mechanic, according to FAA records.
News 6 is working to learn more about Campos, so check back for updates.
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All 64 people aboard the American Airlines jet and three soldiers aboard the helicopter were killed in the collision. At least 28 bodies were pulled from the icy waters of the Potomac River after the helicopter apparently flew into the path of the jet late Wednesday as it was landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington.
“We don’t believe there are any survivors,” said John Donnelly, the fire chief in the nation’s capital. “We are now at the point where we are switching from a rescue operation to a recovery operation.”
The plane was found upside-down in three sections in waist-deep water, and first responders were searching an area of the Potomac River as far south as the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, roughly 3 miles south of the airport, Donnelly said. The helicopter wreckage was also found. Images from the river showed boats around the partly submerged wing and the mangled wreckage of the plane’s fuselage.
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If no one survived, the collision would be the deadliest U.S. air crash since 2001.
There was no immediate word on the cause of the collision, but officials said flight conditions were clear as the jet arrived from Wichita, Kansas, with U.S. and Russian figure skaters and others aboard.
“On final approach into Reagan National, it collided with a military aircraft on an otherwise normal approach,” American Airlines CEO Robert Isom said. “At this time, we don’t know why the military aircraft came into the path of the ... aircraft.”
President Donald Trump opened a White House news conference after the crash with a moment of silence honoring the victims, calling it an “hour of anguish” for the country.
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What happened
The FAA said the midair crash occurred before 9 p.m. EST in some of the most tightly controlled and monitored airspace in the world, just over 3 miles south of the White House and the Capitol.
American Airlines Flight 5342 was inbound to Reagan National at an altitude of about 400 feet and a speed of about 140 mph when it rapidly lost altitude over the Potomac River, according to data from its radio transponder. The Canadian-made Bombardier CRJ-701 twin-engine jet, manufactured in 2004, can be configured to carry up to 70 passengers.
A few minutes before landing, air traffic controllers asked the arriving commercial jet if it could land on the shorter Runway 33 at Reagan National, and the pilots said they were able. Controllers then cleared the plane to land on Runway 33. Flight-tracking sites showed the plane adjust its approach to the new runway.
Less than 30 seconds before the crash, an air traffic controller asked the helicopter, a UH-60 Blackhawk, if it had the arriving plane in sight. The controller made another radio call to the helicopter moments later: “PAT 25, pass behind the CRJ.” Seconds after that, the two aircraft collided.
The plane’s transponder stopped transmitting about 2,400 feet short of the runway, roughly over the middle of the river.
News 6 spoke to an Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University associate professor who offered his insight into air traffic control.
“This is a rare event, a tragic event,” said Michael McCormick, who also spent years working for the Federal Aviation Administration. “But it’s a confluence of factors that could lead to something like this. And my immediate thought is that this needs to be investigated in great, great detail.”
McCormick outlined a variety of scenarios that could have contributed to the mid-air collision but stressed patience.
“One of the things I encourage everybody is don’t jump to conclusions,” McCormick said. “We don’t know. Let the professionals do the work. They will tell us what happened. And then they will tell us what needs to be done to correct it.”
McCormick said his thoughts are with the people aboard the vessels, their families, as well as the men and women who were working in air traffic control towers in the Washington D.C. area.
“I think air traffic control is the perfect meritocracy because only the best, only the capable, and those who’ve gone through an extensive, detailed training program rise to become an air traffic controller,” McCormick said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.