Teenage skaters, a young pilot and a professor - the victims of DC plane crash

 

Teenage skaters, a young pilot and a professor - the victims of DC plane crash

Howard University A headshot of Professor Kiah DugginsHoward University

Professor Kiah Duggins was named by Howard University as one of those on board the flight

Recovery operations are still under way in Washington DC, after an American Airlines plane from Kansas carrying 64 people onboard collided with a military helicopter, manned by three personnel, on Wednesday night.

The victims include top figure skaters from the US and Russia, a young pilot, flight attendants, and a lawyer travelling home on her birthday.

Here are some of the people believed to have been on board the helicopter and the plane.

Plane passengers

Asra Hussain Raza

Indiana woman Asra Hussain Raza, 26, had moved to the Washington DC area after receiving a master's degree in hospital management.

"She was returning from a work trip where she was helping to improve a hospital that really needed help," said her husband Hamaad Raza, who showed the last text message from his wife to news crews outside the airport.

"And, you know, she was doing what she loved. She was even working on the flight."

He added: "She gave a lot, but she had so much more to give. But if there was ever someone who took advantage of their 26 years of life, it was her."

Professor Kiah Duggins

The president of Howard University confirmed Professor Kiah Duggins had died in the collision.

The civil rights lawyer was set to begin teaching at the university's School of Law in the autumn.

"She dedicated her career to fighting against unconstitutional policing and unjust money bail practices in Tennessee, Texas and Washington DC," the university said in a statement reported by US media.

Sarah Lee Best

Two DC lawyers were also on board the flight, their loved ones confirmed.

Sarah Lee Best, 33, was kind and hard working, her husband Daniel Solomon told the Washington Post.

Mrs Best and Mr Solomon had planned to travel to Hawaii, where she was born, for their 10th wedding anniversary in May.

Wilkinson Stekloff Side-by-side pictures of Sarah Lee Best and Elizabeth Keys. Wilkinson Stekloff

Sarah Lee Best and Elizabeth Keys were "cherished members" of their law firm, a statement read

Elizabeth Keys

Lawyer Elizabeth Keys, 33, "always, always managed to have fun... no matter what she was doing," her partner David Seidman told the Washington Post.

She died on her birthday, Mr Seidman said.

The firm where both worked, Wilkinson Stekloff, paid tribute to the "cherished members" of its team.

They were "wonderful attorneys, colleagues, and friends," firm founder Beth Wilkinson said in a statement.

Casey Crafton

Tributes were made to "dedicated father" Casey Crafton of Salem, Connecticut.

"Salem has lost a dedicated father, husband, and community member," Governor Ned Lamont wrote on social media.

Salem Little League, where Mr Crafton was a coach, said the town was "heartbroken" by the loss of the "beloved" club member.

"The Crafton family, deeply involved in all things Salem, has suffered an unimaginable loss," the statement read.

Michael Stovall

Michael Stovall's mother said her son was "the happiest person", who saw the good in everybody.

Mr Stovall, known as Mikey, was travelling home from an annual hunting trip with friends, Christina Stovall told Wink News.

"Mikey did not have one enemy. If you see pictures of him... he was the life of the party. He loved everybody."

Mr Stovall's cousin told the New York Times that he had been flying with at least six of his friends from the trip, some of whom had known each other since childhood.

Jesse Pitcher

Travelling with Mr Stovall was Jesse Pitcher, his father confirmed.

The 30-year-old from Maryland had got married last year and recently started his own business, Jameson Pitcher told the New York Times.

"He was just getting started with life," he said.

"He said he'd see me when he got back."

Pergentino N. Malabed

The Philippine National Police confirmed that the director of its Supply Management Division, Colonel Pergentino N. Malabed, had been on board the flight.

A body carrying Col Malabed's passport was recovered from the Potomac, a police spokesman said.

He had travelled to the US with two other officers to test personnel vests the police planned to buy, and was on his way to the Philippine embassy in Washington.

Vikesh Patel

Vikesh Patel was confirmed as one of the victims of the plane crash by his employer GE Aerospace.

Larry Culp, chairman and CEO of the company, said in a statement on X that Patel, "a cherished colleague", was aboard the American Airlines flight.

According to his Linkedin, Patel worked at GE Aerospace for more than a decade in several roles including Engine Assembly Engineer, Production Planner and Senior Operations Manager.

Wendy Shaffer

A friend of Wendy Shaffer, Bill Melugin, confirmed that she was among the passengers who were killed aboard the American Airlines flight.

Melugin wrote on X that Shaffer "was an incredibe wife" to his friend Nate, "and an amazing mom of two children, ages 3 and 1".

"Always smiling, such a sweetheart," Melugin said. "Heartbroken for Nate. We go from joking in our fantasy football group chat to this horrible news."

Melugin shared a statement from Shaffer's husband, who wrote: "Wendy was not just beautiful on the outside, but was a truly amazing woman through and through. She was the best wife, mother, and friend that anyone could ever hope for."