‘Left so young’: Flight 5342 pilot remembered as leader in the cockpit, character outside of it

CHARLOTTE — People are remembering Jonathan Campos as a man who made everyone around him better -- a leader in the cockpit, but a fun character when not in uniform. Now, many are working to help his family after he died in a mid-air collision earlier this week.

Campos was the pilot of American Airlines Flight 5342, but he made an impact on many before the tragic day he died. Many wrote about their memories with Campos online.

“I still remember the first time I met you and how goofy and crazy you were,” one friend wrote. “I’m proud of you for all you accomplished! And I’m sad that you left so young.”

The 34-year-old was in the cockpit Wednesday night and approaching for a landing in Washington, D.C. when the unthinkable happened. An Army helicopter crossed into the plane’s path, and the two aircraft collided over the Potomac River. There were no survivors.

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We’ve learned that Campos lived in Florida, but he was part of the Charlotte-based American Airlines flight crew who perished while doing their jobs.

On Friday, a GoFundMe page called for support for Campos’ mom. The page said Campos was her “pride and joy,” and that “everything she did was for her son.”

“[He] was a loving son, boyfriend, and dedicated pilot,” friends wrote.

Another friend wrote on Facebook that Campos was “direct, sarcastic,” but had a “sweet nature.” Friends remembered his work with an equestrian team and shared photos of him with one of his horses; he was also an avid motorcyclist.

Campos also shared his knowledge of the skies. He graduated with a degree in aeronautical sciences from Embry-Riddle University, and he eventually went on to teach with Epic Flight Academy in Florida. The academy wrote that he had an “undeniable passion for flying.”

One colleague wrote that when traveling to their gate, Campos would never leave a crew member behind. He’d say, “Family is family,” and stop and wait.

An avid aviator, Campos heartbreakingly traded his pilot wings for angel wings.

(VIDEO: Charlotte-area victims of the D.C. mid-air collision who worked for American Airlines)

Charlotte-area victims of the D.C. mid-air collision who worked for American Airlines

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