D.C. Plane Crash: Former Navy quarterback Brian Ellis among victims

One of the victims of the American Airlines Flight 5342 crash has been identified as former Navy quarterback Brian Ellis.

Lt. Col. Brian Ellis was a 1993 graduate of the Naval Academy and was identified as one of the victims by The Baltimore Banner. He was a passenger aboard the American Airlines flight that collided with a military helicopter and plunged into the Potomac River.

“Our hearts go out to all those who experienced loss through this devastating event,” John Schofield, a spokesperson for the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association, told The Baltimore Banner. “Among those on board was one of our own — Brian Ellis ’93, a former Navy football player and proud graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends and the entire Naval Academy community who mourn his passing.”

The Baltimore Banner has an extensive piece on Brian Ellis, who was presumed dead in the crash.

Writes the Banner, detailing Ellis’ football career:

“He played in 22 games for Navy during the 1991 and 1992 seasons, according to College Football Reference. He was the backup quarterback heading into the 1992 season but started after Jim Kubiak dislocated his shoulder in the opening game.

“Ellis himself was injured in the next game against Boston College, when he fractured his jaw. He spent about two months with his jaw wired shut, (Chad) Chatlos said, but made it back for the last game of the year against Army.”

The accident that killed Brian Ellis occurred late Wednesday night when a passenger airliner collided with an Army helicopter on approach to Ronald Reagan National Airport.

The plane crashed into the Potomac River. According to the Associated Press, everyone on board the two aircrafts is feared dead, officials said on Thursday.

The American Airlines flight originated in Wichita, Kansas, before it collided with the military helicopter, which was on a training exercise.

The Associated Press detailed the harrowing moments just before the crash that Brian Ellis and others were aboard for.

“A few minutes before the jet was to land, air traffic controllers asked American Airlines Flight 5342 if it could do so on a shorter runway, and the pilots agreed,” the AP wrote. “Controllers cleared the jet to land and flight tracking sites showed the plane adjust its approach to the new runway.

“Less than 30 seconds before the crash, an air traffic controller asked a helicopter if it had the arriving plane in sight. The controller made another radio call to the helicopter moments later, saying “PAT 25 pass behind the CRJ” — apparently telling the copter to wait for the Bombardier CRJ-701 twin-engine jet to pass. There was no reply. Seconds after that, the aircraft collided.

“The plane’s radio transponder stopped transmitting about 2,400 feet (732 meters) short of the runway, roughly over the middle of the Potomac.

“The body of the plane was found upside-down in three sections in waist-deep water, officials said. The helicopter’s wreckage was also found.”