Alumnus Jonathan Campos Commemorated at Embry-Riddle Through Funds Supporting Aviation Safety Research

Two aviation safety research funds honoring the memory of alumnus Jonathan Campos have been established at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Boeing Center for Aviation and Aerospace Safety.  

Campos, 34, died a year ago in the midair collision between an American Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter in the Washington, D.C., area. Campos, who earned a bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle in 2015, served as captain on the American Airlines Flight 5342

Made possible by the generosity of Embry-Riddle Trustee Neal Keating and his wife, Alison, the Jonathan Campos Aviation Safety Endowment honors Campos by supporting the next generation of aviation safety leaders and the critical research conducted at the Boeing Center for Aviation and Aerospace Safety.

“Jonathan Campos represented the very best of our Eagle community. A dedicated, skilled pilot and trusted colleague to his cabin and crew, Jonathan brought an unrelenting passion for aviation to everything he did,” Trustee Keating said. “We are proud and honored that his legacy continues to live on here at Embry-Riddle through faculty and students who are dedicated to advancing the safety of all who fly.”

Robert Sumwalt, executive director of the Boeing Center for Aviation and Aerospace Safety, said the Jonathan Campos Aviation Safety Endowment, along with the Jonathan Campos Aviation Safety Program Support fund, will provide crucial opportunities to advance aviation safety research. One current area of focus is applying artificial intelligence and machine learning to critical aviation safety data.

According to the National Transportation Safety Board investigation into the D.C. crash, more than 15,000 cases were found where airplanes and helicopters were closer than allowed in the airspace surrounding Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Sumwalt said.

“The data were there, but warning signs were missed,” he said. “We plan to conduct research into how data science can be used to identify these precursor events before they culminate in an accident.”  

Campos came to Embry-Riddle’s Daytona Beach Campus to pursue his bachelor’s degree. He later obtained his flight instructor certification at Epic Flight Academy in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, where he trained aspiring pilots. In 2018, he joined PSA Airlines, a subsidiary of American Airlines, and he was promoted to captain in 2022.

At Campos’ funeral, PSA Airlines President Dion Flannery described Campos as a talented pilot and passionate aviator, who was beloved by the aviation community. “He will never be forgotten,” Flannery said.

Born in the Bronx and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Campos lost his father, New York City police officer Feliberto Campos, Jr., at the age of nine. According to his obituary, this left an impression of service on Campos into his adulthood. He carried his father’s badge with him and even had it tattooed on his right shoulder as a lasting tribute. He was interred near his father in New York’s St. John Cemetery.  

Campos “will forever be missed for his mischievous grin, infectious laugh, goofy sense of humor, unparalleled passion, perseverance, grit and adventurous spirit,” says his obituary. "Jonathan’s passion for aviation and love of flying in service of others was exhibited everyday, in every offer to family and friends, every friendly encounter with his students, every on air announcement to his cabin and crew. Jonathan lived and loved his work."

The Boeing Center for Aviation and Aerospace Safety leads and fosters innovation and collaboration among industry, government and academic leaders, focusing on research, academic programs, professional education and consulting that will enhance aviation and aerospace safety. Donations to the Jonathan Campos Aviation Safety Program Support Fund can be made here.