The captain of the doomed American Airlines flight expressed excitement about an upcoming family trip before the tragic DC plane crash. His uncle, John Lane, shared that Campos, 34, was living his dream as a pilot and had loved flying since childhood.

The crash near Reagan National Airport involved Flight 5342 and an Army Black Hawk helicopter, killing all onboard, including Campos and several flight attendants. Among the victims were young figure skaters, a civil rights lawyer, and a Virginia family.

A preliminary FAA investigation revealed staffing issues and potential errors in the helicopter’s flight path, which may have contributed to the collision. Authorities continue recovery efforts and investigations.