Katharine McPhee revealed that she had a personal connection to one of the flight attendants who was tragically killed on the fated American Airlines Flight 5342 in Washington D.C.
On Wednesday night, the commercial airliner and a U.S. military Black Hawk helicopter collided during the plane’s final approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
A total of 60 pᴀssengers had been on the plane, as well as two pilots and two flight attendants. Three solders had been on the helicopter – with no survivors in the fatal crash.
McPhee, 40, took to her Instagram stories on Friday to mourn the loss of the 67 victims, including one of the late American Airlines flight attendant named Ian Epstein.
The singer reposted a video of Epstein, 53, that was uploaded by travel influencer, Jay Robert, and penned: ‘I remember this man on one of our many flights.’
‘He was a gem just like you see. We had a great conversation. So warm & fun. Rest in peace kind man,’ Katharine concluded.
Katharine McPhee, 40, revealed that she had a personal connection to one of the flight attendants who was tragically killed on the fated American Airlines Flight 5342 in Washington D.C.; seen in November 2024 in Nashville
The post shared by Jay Robert included a montage of clips of Ian as many others also remembered the late flight attendant.
‘PSA Flight Attendant Ian Epstein wasn’t just a crew member – he was the heart of every flight he worked,’ he penned.
‘Through his quick wit and infectious humor, he turned routine trips into moments of joy, making pᴀssengers smile even on the most stressful travel days…’
Jay added that the videos of Epstein showed the ‘laughter and warmth he brought to the skies. Now we all can experience the magic he brought to flight.’
‘Ian was a testament to what it means to be a great flight attendant – not just making pᴀssengers feel safe and comfortable, but making them love flying.’
‘In an era where air travel is often met with frustration, Ian’s infectious spirit reminded everyone of the magic of flight,’ the influencer continued.
Towards the end of his moving message, Robert added that Epstein’s ‘legacy of kindness, laughter, and love for aviation will forever bring pride to the wings we wear.’
Earlier this week, another video of Ian – who was labeled the ‘world’s best flight attendant’ – surfaced and showed him warmly joking with pᴀssengers.
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McPhee, 40, took to her Instagram stories on Friday to mourn the loss of the 67 victims, including one of the late American Airlines flight attendant named Ian Epstein
‘He was a gem just like you see. We had a great conversation. So warm & fun. Rest in peace kind man,’ Katharine concluded
The clip, which appeared to be recoded by a pᴀssenger, showed a bubbly Ian Epstein chatting with pᴀssengers 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.
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‘We know the reason we have jobs is because you guys are flying. We love you, we appreciate you,’ Epstein said in the reel, after cracking jokes as he spoke over the intercom.
Pᴀssengers 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.
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.
Earlier this week, another video of Ian – who was labeled the ‘world’s best flight attendant’ – surfaced and showed him warmly joking with pᴀssengers
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 traveling. 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.
‘I don’t remember many flight attendants, but I do remember him! We had a superrr early flight and he made it so enjoyable. What a loss,’ another wrote.
‘[J]ust flew from Daytona to Charlotte with him on Monday, he was the sweetest guy ever and gave me a free liter of water on the way off because he said he didn’t want me to pay for one in the airport,’ a third said.
‘He used to talk about the people he met on the plane as if they were all new friends,’ Bloom told CNN; police boat seen on January 30 gathering wreckage from crash
Colleagues reflected on how fun it was to work with Epstein, and how he made their jobs that much more enjoyable.
‘I worked with him, he was like this on every flight and in the crew room,’ one commented. ‘He was a true gem. He will be missed.’
Another colleague told CNN that Epstein was a ‘ball of vibrant, colorful energy.’
‘We love our job. We get up every day, a lot of us do it because we just love people, regardless of pay,’ said colleague Garrick McFadden. ‘But Ian definitely was one of the greatest examples of [that]. I miss him.’
Epstein had been working on the disastrous flight alongside fellow flight attendant Danasia Elder, 34, and pilots, Captain Jonathan Campos, 34, and First Officer Samuel Lilley, 29; taken on January 30
Epstein lived in Charlotte along with other members of the flight crew.
His ex-wife, Debi Epstein, told the Charlotte Observer that they have two children together, including a daughter who’s getting married in eight weeks.
Epstein had been working on the disastrous flight alongside fellow flight attendant Danasia Elder, 34, and pilots, Captain Jonathan Campos, 34, and First Officer Samuel Lilley, 29.
Other victims in the crash include members of the U.S. Figure Skating Team who were returning from skating camp in Wichita, Kansas.
