Friends and family of Capt. Jonathan J. Campos, the pilot of the plane in the deadly midair collision, are paying tribute by sharing stories of his sense of humor, his passion for flying and his dedication.
Campos was flying the American Eagle jet from Kansas that collided with an Army helicopter over the Potomac River near Reagan National Airport on Wednesday; all 67 people aboard both aircrafts were killed.
His uncle Hector Campos said his nephew “was a great kid” in a brief phone call with NBC News on Thursday. “That’s all I want to say.”
Campos’ stepmother, Sonia Carrasquillo, asked for privacy on behalf of the family when speaking to Telemundo Puerto Rico, NBC’s sister station in the U.S. territory.
According to Hector Campos, the family was heading to Washington, D.C., on Friday.
Catherine Silver, a reporter with WKMG in Orlando, Florida, told viewers Thursday that she briefly spoke to Campos’ girlfriend, who was not identified by name. The girlfriend described Campos as the “love of her life” for the past 10 years, and said she couldn’t believe he was gone. She said she would speak more about him at a later time.
Campos, 34, was of Puerto Rican descent on his father’s side. He was born in the U.S. mainland and lived in Puerto Rico until age 10, Telemundo Puerto Rico reported.
Campos lived in Florida, where he studied aeronautical science at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Campos graduated in 2015, the university said in a statement.
“Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Captain Jonathan Campos,” the statement reads. “Our thoughts are with his family and the families and loved ones of all impacted by this tragic accident.”
Mike Marana, who went to school with Campos, posted his “top college memory” of Campos on Facebook — a photo of Campos at a Cracker Barrel holding a small plate of stiff grits upside down.
“He called the waitress and said, ‘Ma’am, I think there’s something wrong with THIS,'” Marana said as he reminisced about Campos.
“15 years since the last major US air carrier loss, and of course the Captain had to be someone you knew,” Marana’s post reads. “This could have been any of us. Stay safe fellow aviators.”
‘Skilled and dedicated’
After becoming a pilot, Campos went on to train other pilots. Epic Flight Academy, where Campos was certified as a flight instructor, expressed their condolences in a Facebook post Thursday.
“We are heartbroken,” the post reads. “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.”
