20-Year-Old Kansas Woman Died in American Airlines Crash Over D.C. After Returning Home for Grandfather's Funeral, Dad Says

Mar. 15, 2025

Grace Maxwell.Photo:Grace Maxwell/Instagram

Grace Maxwell/Instagram

One of the victims on the American Airlines regional passenger jet thatcollided mid-airwith a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter was a young college student returning to school after attending her grandfather’s funeral.Grace Maxwell, a 20-year-old Wichita, Kan. native, was on the Wednesday, Jan. 29 flight after attending her grandfather Charles Andrew Winter’s funeral in Kansas, her father, Dean Maxwell, toldThe Wichita Eagle.She was headed back to Cedarville University in Ohio, where she was studying biomedical engineering.Grace was on theAmerican Airlines flight 5342 from Wichita, Kan., that crashed into the military aircraft that sent both aircraft plummeting into the Potomac River just before 9 p.m. on Wednesday.There were 64 people aboard the plane — 60 passengers and four crew members — and three soldiers on the helicopter. Officials have repeatedly said that they do not believe there are any survivors.The Coast Guard investigates aircraft wreckage on the Potomac River on January 30, 2025 in Washington, D.C.Petty Officer 1st Class Brandon Giles/ U.S. Coast Guard via GettyDean told the outlet that authorities have not contacted him about his daughter yet, and he does not know if she is among the 28 passengers who were recovered from the Potomac River. “We do know she was on the plane.”He toldThe Wichita Eaglethat he had spoken with the American Airlines’ Care Team a few times, who said they would contact him when they had information. The airline created a helpline for the passengers’ loved ones.“If you believe you may have loved ones on board Flight 5342, call American Airlines toll-free at 800-679-8215,” the airline said in a Wednesday statement.Cedarville University toldWLWTthat Grace was a mechanical engineering major and set to graduate in 2026. The university’s president will address students about her death during an all-campus chapel program on Friday, Jan. 31.“As you can imagine, the past 24 hours have been very difficult for the Maxwell family and the Cedarville University community. As a university, we do not desire to turn this tragic event into anything more than a way to honor Grace, her family, and Jesus,” a university spokesperson said in a statement to WLWT.Dr. Tim Norman, who served as her secondary advisor, described Grace as a “quiet person with a keen interest in helping others through engineering.“Grace was not the only student who was on the flight. Three students and six parents from the Fairfax Public Schools in Virginia were also passengers, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid said in an email shared with PEOPLE.Fourteen U.S. figure skaters, including six members of The Skating Club of Boston — teensSpencer Laneand Jinna Han; their mothers Christine Lane and Jin Han; andcoaches Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov— were on the American Airlines plane. Figure Skating Club skaters, sistersEverly and Alydia Livingston, 14 and 11, were also on the flight.Four members of the Plumbers, Pipefitters and Steamfitters Local 602 and one member of the Plumbers and Gasfitters Local 5 unions were also killed in the crash.Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov; Spencer Lane; Everly & Alydia Livingston.PIERRE VERDY/AFP via Getty; Spencer Lane/Instagram; Everly & Alydia Livingston/InstagramFour flight attendants were on duty: Ian Epstein, 52; Danasia Elder, 34; Sam Lilley, 28; and Jonathan Campos, 34.There were three soldiers aboard the Black Hawk helicopter who were killed in the crash, including Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Eaves.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.A representative for Cedarville University did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for more information on Thursday.

One of the victims on the American Airlines regional passenger jet thatcollided mid-airwith a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter was a young college student returning to school after attending her grandfather’s funeral.

Grace Maxwell, a 20-year-old Wichita, Kan. native, was on the Wednesday, Jan. 29 flight after attending her grandfather Charles Andrew Winter’s funeral in Kansas, her father, Dean Maxwell, toldThe Wichita Eagle.She was headed back to Cedarville University in Ohio, where she was studying biomedical engineering.

Grace was on theAmerican Airlines flight 5342 from Wichita, Kan., that crashed into the military aircraft that sent both aircraft plummeting into the Potomac River just before 9 p.m. on Wednesday.

There were 64 people aboard the plane — 60 passengers and four crew members — and three soldiers on the helicopter. Officials have repeatedly said that they do not believe there are any survivors.

The Coast Guard investigates aircraft wreckage on the Potomac River on January 30, 2025 in Washington, D.C.Petty Officer 1st Class Brandon Giles/ U.S. Coast Guard via Getty

Petty Officer 1st Class Brandon Giles/ U.S. Coast Guard via Getty

Dean told the outlet that authorities have not contacted him about his daughter yet, and he does not know if she is among the 28 passengers who were recovered from the Potomac River. “We do know she was on the plane.”

He toldThe Wichita Eaglethat he had spoken with the American Airlines’ Care Team a few times, who said they would contact him when they had information. The airline created a helpline for the passengers’ loved ones.

“If you believe you may have loved ones on board Flight 5342, call American Airlines toll-free at 800-679-8215,” the airline said in a Wednesday statement.

Cedarville University toldWLWTthat Grace was a mechanical engineering major and set to graduate in 2026. The university’s president will address students about her death during an all-campus chapel program on Friday, Jan. 31.

“As you can imagine, the past 24 hours have been very difficult for the Maxwell family and the Cedarville University community. As a university, we do not desire to turn this tragic event into anything more than a way to honor Grace, her family, and Jesus,” a university spokesperson said in a statement to WLWT.

Dr. Tim Norman, who served as her secondary advisor, described Grace as a “quiet person with a keen interest in helping others through engineering.”

Grace was not the only student who was on the flight. Three students and six parents from the Fairfax Public Schools in Virginia were also passengers, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid said in an email shared with PEOPLE.

Fourteen U.S. figure skaters, including six members of The Skating Club of Boston — teensSpencer Laneand Jinna Han; their mothers Christine Lane and Jin Han; andcoaches Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov— were on the American Airlines plane. Figure Skating Club skaters, sistersEverly and Alydia Livingston, 14 and 11, were also on the flight.

Four members of the Plumbers, Pipefitters and Steamfitters Local 602 and one member of the Plumbers and Gasfitters Local 5 unions were also killed in the crash.

Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov; Spencer Lane; Everly & Alydia Livingston.PIERRE VERDY/AFP via Getty; Spencer Lane/Instagram; Everly & Alydia Livingston/Instagram

PIERRE VERDY/AFP via Getty; Spencer Lane/Instagram; Everly & Alydia Livingston/Instagram

Four flight attendants were on duty: Ian Epstein, 52; Danasia Elder, 34; Sam Lilley, 28; and Jonathan Campos, 34.

There were three soldiers aboard the Black Hawk helicopter who were killed in the crash, including Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Eaves.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

A representative for Cedarville University did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for more information on Thursday.

source: people.com