Loved ones mourn 7 men who died in DC plane crash while returning from hunting trip

Seven men boarded a plane together at the end of their hunting trip, bound for Maryland where their wives, kids and coworkers were expecting them. But they never made it home.

The group was hunting with Fowl Plains in Great Bend, Kansas, owner Chase White told USA TODAY on Friday. White said three men in the group drove home, and seven of them boarded American Airlines flight 5342, which collided with a helicopter as it approached Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

Since the crash, Fowl Plains said the group has been "laughing, talking about our families, and sharing memories."

"Heartbroken is an understatement," the group's statement read.

Many of those traveling together from the hunting trip also belonged to the United Association of Union Plumbers and Pipefitters.

The USA TODAY Network has attempted to reach friends and family of all of the plane crash victims. Here is what we know about them:

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Michael 'Mikey' Stovall, volunteering with a smile

Mikey Stovall, 40, was born in Accokeek, Maryland, in south Prince George's County, went to St. Mary’s Ryken High School in St. Mary’s County, and studied steam-fitting at UA Mechanical Trade School in Landover, Maryland. He worked as a steamfitter as a member of UA Steamfitters Local 602 for 19 years and lived with his family in Port Tobacco, Maryland. According to NBC station WRC-TV in Washington, after he returned to southern Maryland, he planned to go on a snowboarding trip with his son.

A Facebook post by the Southern Maryland Youth Organization read: “Our league, our community and a very special family has suffered an unimaginable loss.

“Mikey Stovall could often be found at the field coaching his son and his team,” it continued. “He was more than a coach – he was a true volunteer, always willing to lend a  hand, and all the while doing it with a smile on his face.”

Southern Maryland Youth Organization plans to honor “Coach Mikey” on its Memorial Wall, beneath the announcer’s booth on Field 4 for the upcoming season. Those who wish to make a donation to the Stovall family can do so via GoFundMe.

Charles 'Charlie' McDaniel: 'Incredible' family member

Charlie McDaniel, 44, had been with UA Steamfitters Local 602 for 22 years.

A Meal Train set up to benefit his loved ones called him "an incredible member of their family."

Jonathan D. Boyd: Mentor, father, friend and brother

Jonathan "Jon" Boyd, 40, had been with UA Steamfitters Local 602 for 20 years.

According to a GoFundMe organized for his family, he had a wife and two sons aged 11 and 1 years old, who he loved to hunt, fish and play hockey with.

"We lost one of the best," the description read. "Jon was so much more than a colleague ? he was a mentor, a devoted father, a loyal friend, and a beloved brother."

Alexander 'Alex' Huffman had a contagious laugh

Alex Huffman, 34, had been UA Steamfitters Local 602 for nine years. He left behind his wife and two children, according to a GoFundMe organized for the family.

“His laugh was contagious, and he was always there if you needed him,” the fundraiser reads.

Jesse Pitcher: Newlywed and business owner

Jesse Pitcher, 30, had been with UA Plumbers and Gasfitters Local 5 for eight years.

Pitcher had recently been married and started his own business, his father told the Baltimore Banner.

“He was just a hard worker, a great son, very reliable,” father Jameson Pitcher said, according to the Banner. “People would call in the middle of the night, and he’d get up at whatever time it was and get up the road and take care of whatever he had to take care of.”

Steve Johnson: Avid fisherman and 'irreplaceable soul'

Steve Johnson, a resident of southern Maryland who owned an IT company, "lived every day and moment to the fullest," according to a statement provided to USA TODAY by his close friend Chris Schraf.

"Steve was an irreplaceable soul, the embodiment of joy and energy," the statement said. "He was the life of every room he entered, a beacon of light at every party, and a cherished figure in our beloved southern Maryland community."

Schraf's letter said Johnson loved hunting, fishing and sharing his life with friends and family, especially his wife Bridget Johnson. He is survived by his wife, stepson, brother, father and mother.

As word of Johnson's death spread, tributes poured in from around the Maryland fishing community. Capt. Johnson and his CTRL-ALT-DEL crew were regular competitors at Ocean City's massive White Marlin Open, and often winners too. Johnson also sponsored a non-profit fishing tournament in the area, according to a social media post.

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"Steve's generosity knew no bounds; he was always the first to lend a helping hand, offer a word of encouragement, or share a smile that could brighten even the darkest day," Schraf's letter stated.

Friends have organized a GoFundMe for Johnson's family.

Tommy Clagett: 'Girl dad,' youth soccer coach

Tommy Clagett was a "girl dad" living a dream life in Newburg, Maryland, according to a statement shared with USA TODAY by family friend Kate McLean on behalf of his wife Jill.

"To know Tommy was to love him," the statement read. "(He) was a well-loved, hardworking, avid outdoorsman who was thoughtful and respectful at home and work."

He was also a youth soccer coach, the statement said. La Plata Youth Soccer Association and FC Charles 1658 posted on social media applauding his support for their teams and expressing how heartbroken the community was.

"The Clagett Family is deeply grateful for the all those working tirelessly to bring our loved ones home and for those helping the passengers’ families navigate this devastating event," the Clagett family statement read. "And to the hunting excursion that helped these men enjoy their final days, we thank you."

A GoFundMe has been organized by Clagett's employer for his family.

Contributing: Chris Kenning, USA TODAY

This story has been updated to fix an inaccuracy.

Kinsey Crowley is a trending news reporter at USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected], and follow her on X and TikTok @kinseycrowley.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Seven men returning from hunting trip mourned after DC plane crash