Who was Danasia Elder? Flight attendant from Charlotte among victims killed in American Airlines crash

A tragic mid-air collision between an American Airlines flight and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport claimed multiple lives, including passengers, crew members, and soldiers. Among the victims was Danasia Elder, a flight attendant from Charlotte, North Carolina, who leaves behind her husband and two children, Kayden and Dallas.

Danasia Elder, an African American woman with a deep passion for flying, was remembered by her brother-in-law, Brandon Payne, as 'full of life,' with an unwavering love for God, her children, and travel, reported Yahoo News. In a post on X, Joe Bruno from WSOC9 News wrote:

"Danasia Elder loved God, her kids and travel. The Charlotte woman was a flight attendant on last night's flight from Wichita to DC. Her brother in law tells me she was full of life. She leaves behind a husband and two children, Kayden and Dallas @wsoctv"

Danasia Elder's brother-in-law Brandon Payne also said:

“She was a great wife, a great parent, a great friend. She was very bright, very smart. She was an entrepreneur. This flight attendant thing was kind of like one of her dreams she wanted to do.”

When asked about a message he'd like to give people about Danasia, Payne said that he admired her for following her dreams and passion. He added:

“She’ll would want y’all do the same thing she did. Chase your dreams, no matter what. Don’t let nothing scare you, push you away. Just believe in yourself, believe in God, and follow the path,”

A former PSA training classmate described Danasia Elder as warm, friendly, and dedicated to her career as a flight attendant, noting that she would light up when speaking about her family. The close-knit PSA community in Charlotte, where Danasia Elder completed her training, is mourning her loss, reported WCNC Charlotte.

---

Apart from Danasia Elder, what other crew members have been identified?

Apart from Danasia Elder, the other identified crew members on American Airlines Flight 5342 include First Officer Samuel Lilley, Captain Jonathan Campos, and flight attendant Ian Epstein.

Sam Lilley, who was recently engaged, tragically died on the same flight path his father, Timothy Lilley, once flew as an Army Black Hawk pilot. Ian Epstein, a former Camping World salesman turned flight attendant, was known for his ability to bring joy to those around him. His mother, Debi Epstein, shared that he leaves behind two daughters, one of whom is set to be married in eight weeks. Jonathan Campos, the captain of the flight, had been with American Airlines since 2022.