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‘The sweetest human.’ Charlotte-based flight attendant mourned after DC plane crash

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American Airlines plane crash in Washington

American Airlines flight 5342 from Wichita collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 29, 2025. Authorities said no one survived, including a Charlotte-based crew. Here is ongoing coverage from The Charlotte Observer.

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Editor’s Note: In the wake of the worst aviation disaster in the United States in years, The Wichita Eagle, Kansas City Star, Charlotte Observer and other McClatchy journalists from across the country are working to tell the story of each person who lost their life in the crash. Read all of their stories here.

Editor’s note: This story was updated on Feb. 3, 2025, with information about a verified GoFundMe page.

Danasia Elder was known to many as a great wife, mom and friend. Now, those family members and friends are in mourning.

The 34-year-old was one of four Charlotte-based American Eagle flight 5342 crew members who died after the plane from Wichita, Kansas, collided with a military helicopter over Washington, D.C. A total of 67 people were killed in the crash.

Her brother-in-law Brandon Payne said she was full of life, Charlotte Observer news partner WSOC reported.

“She was very bright, very smart,” Payne said. “She was an entrepreneur. This flight attendant thing was kind of like one of her dreams she wanted to do.”

She leaves behind a husband and two children, Kayden and Dallas.

Elder’s younger sister, Dajour Brown, organized a verified GoFundMe page to support Elder’s family. As of Feb. 3, donors so far have raised $95,000 out of a goal of $300,000 .

“Please keep our family in your prayers as we grieve such a sudden unexpected loss,” Brown wrote on the GoFundMe. “Anything donated will go towards her kids (ages 5 and 13) and husband that’s left behind.”

Danasia Elder
Danasia Elder Facebook screen grab

Missing her friend

After the crash, Elder’s friends took to social media to lament her loss. The plane was operated by PSA Airlines, a subsidiary of American Airlines.

One of them was Rebecca Cavaliere. She was devastated by how Elders died, her Facebook message said. They had participated in PSA training together last year and worked with each other several times.

Cavaliere added that Elder was the “sweetest human” and asked people to pray for Elder’s family.

“Flying will never be the same for me again,” Cavaliere wrote. “You never think someone you know will be in a plane crash. I’ve worked flights into DCA many times and my brain can’t comprehend how this happened. Praying for all 67 souls and may they rest in peace.”

A fundraiser is underway for the family of Danasia Elder, one of four crew members from American Eagle flight 5342. She was a flight attendant on the plane that collided with a military chopper, killing 67 people Wednesday in Washington, D.C.
A fundraiser is underway for the family of Danasia Elder, one of four crew members from American Eagle flight 5342. She was a flight attendant on the plane that collided with a military chopper, killing 67 people Wednesday in Washington, D.C. GoFundMe

This story was originally published January 30, 2025 at 7:21 PM with the headline "‘The sweetest human.’ Charlotte-based flight attendant mourned after DC plane crash."

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The Charlotte Observer
Chase Jordan is a business reporter for The Charlotte Observer, and has nearly a decade of experience covering news in North Carolina. Prior to joining the Observer, he was a growth and development reporter for the Wilmington StarNews. The Kansas City native is a graduate of Bethune-Cookman University.
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American Airlines plane crash in Washington

American Airlines flight 5342 from Wichita collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 29, 2025. Authorities said no one survived, including a Charlotte-based crew. Here is ongoing coverage from The Charlotte Observer.

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