In an emotional interview from his Brooklyn home, Campos’ uncle, John Lane, tearfully recounted their last conversation.
Meanwhile, Campos’ mother has already traveled to Washington to make arrangements for his remains.
A Promising Life Cut Short
Campos, who lived in Orlando with his girlfriend, was passionate about football and basketball. He grew up in a modest apartment in Brooklyn’s Coney Island neighborhood before pursuing his dream of becoming a pilot.
Campos attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in New Jersey, where he studied aeronautical science, graduating in 2015.
He also trained at the Epic Flight Academy in Florida, where he earned his flight instructor certification.
The Investigation Unfolds
The National Transportation Safety Board has recovered the black box recorders from both aircraft involved in the crash—the deadliest U.S. aviation disaster in 16 years.
Among those lost were young American figure skaters Spencer Lane (16), Brielle Beyer (12), and Jinna Han (13), along with renowned Russian skating duo Vadim Naumov (56) and Evgenia Shishkova (53).
The crash also claimed the life of Kiah Duggins (30), a Harvard Law School graduate, civil rights attorney, and former White House intern during Michelle Obama’s Let Girls Learncampaign.
Grace Maxwell (20), a biomedical engineering student at Cedarville University, was also on board, returning to school after a trip.
Tragically, an entire family from Virginia perished in the crash. The Ashburn family—parents Donna and Peter, along with their daughters Alydia (11) and Everly (14)—were returning home after the girls competed in the 2025 U.S. Figure Skating Championships.
Aviation Failures and New Revelations
Preliminary reports suggest critical failures in air traffic control may have contributed to the catastrophe. According to The New York Times, a single air traffic controller was left to manage both planes and helicopters that night—a task usually handled by two people until 9:30 p.m.
However, a supervisor reportedly allowed one controller to leave early, combining responsibilities before the usual shift change. The FAA has since admitted that this staffing decision was “not normal for the time of day and volume of traffic.”
Adding to the tragedy, new evidence suggests the Black Hawk Army helicopter involved in the crash may have veered off course, straying half a mile from its designated flight path and flying 300 feet above the approved altitude limit of 200 feet.
As the investigation continues, the aviation community is left grappling with what went wrong—and how such a devastating loss of life could have been prevented.
