Video of the ‘world’s greatest flight attendant’ warmly joking with passengers has surfaced after the crew member tragically died in the American Airways airplane crash in Washington, DC.
The clip, which gave the impression to be recoded by a passenger, confirmed a bubbly Ian Epstein, 53, chatting with passengers on an earlier flight, ‘having enjoyable and reminding everybody how vital we’re.’
‘Ian was the one that made prospects really feel like they had been in top notch, even when their seat was within the final row,’ the person who shared the video wrote within the caption.
Epstein was certainly one of 64 individuals killed on the fateful flight from Wichita, Kanas, which collided with a US Military Black Hawk helicopter on Wednesday night time over Potomac River in DC. Three individuals on board the helicopter additionally died.
‘We all know the explanation we’ve got jobs is since you guys are flying. We love you, we admire you,’ Epstein mentioned within the video, after cracking jokes as he spoke over the intercom.
Passengers might be heard laughing and applauding all through the clip.
‘We have now guidelines on my airplane, so be sure to’re following them always. There may be completely positively to not be one ounce of mopiness or groaning on this airplane,’ Epstein mentioned whereas providing up some ‘dad jokes.’
‘I used to be a comic for 27 years. I spent 14 years as a stuntman in Hollywood, which is why my head is formed this manner. You’ll be able to’t make enjoyable of my head,’ he mentioned.
Ian Epstein, 53, was one of many flight attendant on the tragic American Airways flight that collided with a helicopter on Wednesday night time in Washington, DC
‘We all know the explanation we’ve got jobs is since you guys are flying. We love you, we admire you,’ Epstein mentioned within the video, after cracking jokes with a few of the passengers as he spoke over the intercom
‘I labored with him, he was like this on each flight and within the crew room. He was a real gem. He can be missed,’ one colleague commented on the video
Whereas joking in regards to the size of the flight, he mentioned: ‘Sit again calm down and allow us to pamper you on this three hour – guys we’re regional, we solely go 5 miles an hour. We’ll get there finally, you are fortunate this airplane has wings for crying out loud… I am simply kidding.’
‘Welcome to our home… Sit again, calm down and let’s have a terrific day,’ he concluded, earlier than leaping again on the intercom to joke some extra.
Epstein was remembered by his household as somebody who ‘made associates all over the place he went.’
He had labored as a flight attendant for a few years and leaves behind two youngsters and two stepchildren, in keeping with his sister Robbie Bloom.
‘He used to speak in regards to the individuals he met on the airplane as in the event that they had been all new associates,’ Bloom advised CNN.
‘My brother was an exquisite, great man. He beloved life. He beloved touring. He beloved his job. He beloved his household, and he can be sorely missed,’ she mentioned.
Many commenters on the video mentioned they’d as soon as had Epstein as a flight attendant.
‘He gave such a terrific speech on the finish of our flight about being sort to at least one one other in the course of the vacation season,’ wrote one, who mentioned Epstein labored a visit she took from New York to Charlotte on Christmas Eve.
‘My brother was an exquisite, great man. He beloved life. He beloved touring. He beloved his job. He beloved his household, and he can be sorely missed,’ Epstein’s sister, Robbie Bloom, mentioned
Epstein had been engaged on the flight alongside flight attendant Danasia Elder, 34, who left behind a husband and two youngsters
Ian had been engaged on the disastrous flight alongside pilots, Captain Jonathan Campos, 34 (proper) and First Officer Samuel Lilley, 29 (left)
‘I don’t keep in mind many flight attendants, however I do keep in mind him! We had a superrr early flight and he made it so satisfying. What a loss,’ one other wrote.
‘[J]ust flew from Daytona to Charlotte with him on Monday, he was the sweetest man ever and gave me a free liter of water on the best way off as a result of he mentioned he did not need me to pay for one within the airport,’ a 3rd mentioned.
Colleagues mirrored on how enjoyable it was to work with Epstein, and the way he made their jobs that rather more satisfying.
‘I labored with him, he was like this on each flight and within the crew room,’ one commented. ‘He was a real gem. He can be missed.’
One other colleague advised CNN that Epstein was a ‘ball of vibrant, colourful power.’
‘We love our job. We rise up day by day, a number of us do it as a result of we simply love individuals, no matter pay,’ mentioned colleague Garrick McFadden. ‘However Ian positively was one of many biggest examples of [that]. I miss him.’
Epstein lived in Charlotte together with different members of the flight crew.
His ex-wife, Debi Epstein, advised the Charlotte Observer that they’ve two youngsters collectively, together with a daughter who’s getting married in eight weeks.
Epstein had been engaged on the disastrous flight alongside fellow flight attendant Danasia Elder, 34, and pilots, Captain Jonathan Campos, 34, and First Officer Samuel Lilley, 29.
Campos was born in New York however grew up in Florida. He attended the Epic Flight Academy the place he was licensed as a flight teacher in 2017 and as a industrial airline pilot one 12 months later, in keeping with the corporate’s information.
His uncle Hector Campos advised DailyMail.com that his nephew lived for the aviation enterprise: ‘He beloved it.’
Newly engaged Lilley was months away from being promoted to captain, his father mentioned in an unique interview with DailyMail.com.
