One of the flight attendants in the recent plane crash over the Potomac River was an alumnus of BBYO, the youth group stated in a Facebook post on Thursday.
Ian Epstein is one of 67 victims of the crash Wednesday night, in which an American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kan. collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter while on approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia. There were no survivors.
“Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the loss of Ian Epstein, an AZA [Aleph Zadik Aleph, a high school fraternity, part of BBYO] alum, who tragically lost his life in the plane crash at Reagan National Airport yesterday. Ian was a proud member of our Movement and attended our summer leadership camps at Perlman in 1987,” BBYO posted, referring to the organization’s camp in Pennsylvania.
“Ian Epstein was full of life. He loved being a flight attendant because he truly enjoyed traveling and meeting new people,” Epstein’s family said in a statement and via text messages, according to The Washington Post. “But his true love was his family. He was a father, a stepfather, a husband and a brother! He will be truly missed. The family appreciates the outpouring of love and support we’ve received, but at this time we would ask for privacy as we process and grieve our loss.”
A video showcasing Epstein entertaining passengers on past flights with jokes, witty remarks and dancing has gone viral on TikTok since his death.
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid on Thursday extended his condolences to the American people.
“We are all deeply shocked at the tragic plane crash near Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. Israel stands with the American people at this difficult moment,” he wrote on X.
U.S. President Donald Trump has blamed DEI and diversity hires for the crash. The cause of the crash is still unknown, and is still being investigated.