Family Of Pals Returning From Hunting Trip Receive Support From GoFundMe, MealTrain Page

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — Friends and family members have established GoFundMe accounts to help a group of coworkers and best friends who died in the American Airlines crash with an Army helicopter at Reagan National Airport.

American Eagle Flight 5342 had 60 passengers and four crew members onboard when it collided midair with a UH-60 Blackhawk around 8:48 p.m. Wednesday. The Army helicopter had a crew of three and was on a training exercise out of Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

Officials confirmed that four of the 60 passengers who died were members of the Plumbers, Pipefitters and Steamfitters Local 602 of Prince George’s County. Calvin Hawkins, candidate for Prince George’s County executive and Prince George’s County Council Member-At-Large, emailed a statement Thursday confirming that men belonging to Local 602 were on the plane.

According to family members, the men were on a hunting trip in Kansas. The seven hunters went to Kansas in a party of 10 to hunt with outfitter Fowl Plains, based out of Great Bend. Three from the group decided to drive home because it made it easier to transport their hunting dogs and shotguns, The Wichita Eagle reported.

According to the Eagle, the seven hunting buddies who died in the plane crash are Jesse Pitcher, 30; Michael Stovall, 40; Steve Johnson, 45; Alexander Huffman, 34; Charles McDaniel, 44; Jonathan Boyd, 40; and Tommy Clagget, 38.

Johnson was a Waldorf resident and avid fisherman. A longtime friend, Megan Davey, told KHQA that the seven friends were all close and a "staple of the community."

"It’s a real loss and it’s gonna be tough, especially with their younger families. It’s something that you just don’t expect to hear coming out of a town in southern Maryland,” Davey said.

McDaniel, a steamfitter, had been employed for 22 years, the United Association of Union Plumbers and Pipefitters said. Boyd was the longest-tenured steamfitter in the UA Local 602 group that was flying home from Kansas. He had been with the union for two decades.

"We are saddened to confirm the five United Association of Union Plumbers and Pipefitters (UA) members who were on board American Airlines Fight 5342," the union said in a statement to NBC Washington.

Jesse Pitcher of Lusby and Jake Stovall also worked together, Pitcher’s father Jameson Pitcher told The New York Times. Pitcher had been looking forward to the trip, his dad said, adding his son had been married for just over a year and was in the process of building a home.

Christina Stovall described her son to WINK TV as an amazing father, friend and son.

“There was seven wonderful guys there,” said Christina Stovall. “Mikey did not have one enemy. If you see pictures of him, which I’m sure I’m going to post on there, he was the life of the party. He loved everybody. He didn’t see color, he didn’t see anything. He’s the happiest person. He saw good in everybody, almost to a fault.”

A GoFundMe has been created for all of the friends in the hunting group. It's being supported by numerous hunting organizations, including local Ducks Unlimited chapters, Wild Turkey Federation local chapters, a waterfowl chapter, sportsman's club and several businesses. Profits will be split evenly among all of the families affected by the crash.

Calvert Yard Cards also is selling SOMD Strong signs, with a portion of the proceeds being donated directly to the victims' families from southern Maryland.

A MealTrain page has been set up where supporters can sign up to drop off meals or gift cards, as well as donate to the Clagett family.

A MealTrain page also has been established for the McDaniel family that accepts donations, gift cards and allows others to sign up to provide meals.

Calvin Rice created a GoFundMe on behalf of Ashleigh and Jake Stovall. Mike Stovall was one of the hunters killed in the crash.

As Jake's best friend, Rice wrote that "Our hearts break for this wonderful, caring and loving family. A family that has always put others before themselves and a family more than deserving of our love and generosity during this extremely difficult time. No amount is too small and all proceeds will be provided to Ashleigh and Jake. These funds will be used to assist with any basic financial needs as we work towards the healing process."

Katherine Darnell established a GoFundMe on behalf of the Huffman family after Alex Huffman of Mechanicsville died in the plane crash. Darnell wrote that "Alex was the love of Kayla’s life, an amazing father to Rowen and Hadley, and a best friend to many. His laugh was contagious and he was always there if you needed him. Alex and Kayla are family to us. Our hearts are broken for Kayla and the kids, and we would like to take as much as we can off of Kayla’s shoulders. No amount is too small and all proceeds will be provided to Kayla. These funds will be used to assist with any financial needs."

More on the crash can be found here.