American Airlines honors fallen flight crew killed in plane crash with emotional tribute on tarmac

The moment when American Airlines paid tribute on the tarmac to the plane carrying the remains of the flight crew killed in the tragic Washington DC crash was captured on video and it was a heartbreaking scene. 

As the body of the beloved flight attendant Ian Epstein returned to Charlotte after the devastating plane crash that took the lives of 67 people, American Airlines staff lined the tarmac in a poignant tribute.

In an emotional clip captured in a viral TikTok video, emergency vehicles and airport workers gathered to pay their respects.

‘Tonight the remains of #flightattendant #ianepsteinamericanairlines received the #watercannonsalute as it [sic] departs from DCA to his home so he may be laid to #eternalpeace,’ read the caption.

The aircraft carrying Epstein’s remains touched down at Charlotte Douglas International Airport just before 10pm Monday, as reported by WBTV.

The beloved flight attendant was among four Charlotte-based crew members who perished when their passenger jet collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter above the Potomac River near Reagan National Airport on Wednesday, January 29.

Fellow crew members lost in the tragedy included flight attendant Danasia Elder, Captain Jonathan Campos and First Officer Sam Lilley.

Charlotte resident Wendy Jo Shaffer was also among the passengers who lost their lives.

The tribute was marked by a traditional water cannon salute, with fire trucks creating an arc of water over the aircraft as it taxied to meet the waiting hearse.

Video footage captured the heartbreaking moment American Airlines gave a Tarmac tribute for a plane carrying the remains of the flight crew killed in the tragic Washington DC crash

Social media users were moved to tears by footage of the tribute.

One user commented: ‘What a beautiful tribute to a beautiful soul. Ian Epstein will never be forgotten. R.I.P Ian Epstein.’

Another wrote: ‘I hope they didn’t feel any pain and that they opened their eyes and were in the arms of an angel.’ 

‘I didn’t know this was a thing until now and I’m sobbing,’ another added.

Many paid respects to the first responders who successfully returned the bodies of those who perished.   

‘Thank you first responders for finding him so he can go home to his family. Thank you to everyone who helped him fly home. Heartbroken. Thank you for your kindness Ian, we will try to carry it on.’   

One colleague commented: ‘Ian it was an honor flying with you. You were an angel on earth and a bigger angel in heaven. Fly high Ian the skies is [sic] yours. Rest in Paradise.’ 

Video of the ‘world’s best flight attendant’ warmly joking with passengers has surfaced after the crew member tragically died in the plane crash.

American Airlines staff lined the Tarmac in a touching tribute as the body of beloved flight attendant Ian Epstein (pictured) returned to Charlotte following last week’s devastating plane crash that claimed 67 lives

Ian Epstein, 53, was one of the flight attendants on the American Airlines flight that collided with a helicopter on Wednesday night in Washington DC. The beloved flight attendant was among four Charlotte-based crew members who were killed 

The clip, which appeared to have been recorded by a passenger, showed a bubbly Ian Epstein, 53, chatting with passengers on an earlier flight, ‘having fun and reminding everyone how important we are’.

‘Ian was the person who made customers feel like they were in first class, even if their seat was in the last row,’ the user who shared the video wrote in the caption.

Epstein was one of 64 killed on the fateful flight from Wichita, Kansas, which collided with a US Army Black Hawk helicopter on Wednesday night over Potomac River in DC. Three people on board the helicopter also died.

‘We know the reason we have jobs is because you guys are flying. We love you, we appreciate you,’ Epstein said in the video, after cracking jokes as he spoke over the intercom.  

Passengers can be heard laughing and applauding throughout the clip.

‘We have rules on my airplane, so make sure you’re following them at all times. There is absolutely, positively not to be one ounce of mopiness or groaning on this plane,’ Epstein said while offering up some ‘dad jokes’.

‘I was a comedian for 27 years. I spent 14 years as a stuntman in Hollywood, which is why my head is shaped this way. You can’t make fun of my head,’ he said.

Epstein had been working on the flight alongside flight attendant Danasia Elder, 34, who left behind a husband and two children

Ian had been working on the disastrous flight alongside pilots Captain Jonathan Campos, 34, (right) and First Officer Samuel Lilley, 29 (left)

‘My brother was a wonderful, wonderful man. He loved life. He loved travelling. He loved his job. He loved his family, and he will be sorely missed,’ Epstein’s sister, Robbie Bloom, said

While joking about the length of the flight, he said: ‘Sit back, relax and let us pamper you on this three-hour – guys we’re regional, we only go five miles an hour. We’ll get there eventually, you’re lucky this airplane has wings for crying out loud… I’m just kidding.’

‘Welcome to our house… Sit back, relax and let’s have a great day,’ he concluded, before jumping back on the intercom to joke some more.

Epstein was remembered by his family as someone who ‘made friends everywhere he went’.

He had worked as a flight attendant for many years and leaves behind two children and two stepchildren, according to his sister Robbie Bloom.

‘He used to talk about the people he met on the plane as if they were all new friends,’ Bloom told CNN.

‘My brother was a wonderful, wonderful man. He loved life. He loved travelling. He loved his job. He loved his family, and he will be sorely missed,’ she said.

Many commenters on the video said they had once had Epstein as a flight attendant.

‘He gave such a great speech at the end of our flight about being kind to one another during the holiday season,’ wrote one, who said Epstein worked a trip she took from New York to Charlotte on Christmas Eve.

Epstein had been working on the flight alongside fellow flight attendant Danasia Elder, 34, and pilots, Captain Jonathan Campos, 34, and First Officer Samuel Lilley, 29. 

Campos was born in New York but grew up in Florida. He attended the Epic Flight Academy where he was certified as a flight instructor in 2017 and as a commercial airline pilot one year later, according to the company’s records.