Stamford Man Among Victims In DC Plane Crash

STAMFORD, CT — A 42-year-old Stamford man is among the 67 people who died when an American Airlines flight and a U.S. Army helicopter collided over the Potomac River in the Washington, D.C., area on Wednesday night.

The family of Christopher Collins released a statement Friday afternoon:

Our family is devastated by the loss of Chris, our beloved husband, son, brother, and uncle. Chris was a true adventurer with a passion for the outdoors and a lifelong love of animals. His talent as a financial professional brought him to New York City, where he fell in love with a city girl, his cherished wife Jen. While Jen and Chris built a joy-filled city life together, Chris’ call to the outdoors never wavered, whether it was hiking Lögberg in Iceland, camping and rafting in the Great Smoky Mountains, skiing and snowboarding, and most of all, enjoying the coastal outdoor landscape of Brewster, MA and the rest of Cape Cod.

Chris grew up in North Dighton, MA, adored by his parents Bob and Nancy and was always ready for friendly competition with his brother, Matt. The love of dogs he discovered early in life only grew stronger over the years. His frequent walks with the dogs at Lucky Dog Refuge in Stamford, CT brought him tremendous joy.

Chris’ kindness and compassion extended to everyone, whether you were a family member, friend, or one of the many strangers he connected with during his outdoor adventures. He will be in our hearts forever.

Our family requests your privacy and understanding and will not be making any further comments at this time.

Collins volunteered at Lucky Dog Refuge in Stamford, where he walked dogs throughout the week for the animal rescue located on Pulaski Street.

"We are heartbroken to hear about the tragic loss of Christopher Collins. Chris volunteered multiple times a week at our rescue and he was beloved by everyone, humans and animals alike," said Lucky Dog Refuge co-founder and CEO Kirstin Mende in an emailed statement to Patch.

"He was a kind, generous, compassionate person who loved his family and wanted to make this world a better place. He certainly made our community and rescue so much brighter with his presence, easy smile, and thoughtful nature. He will be deeply missed and our hearts are with his family during this devastating time."

See also: CT Man — Father Of 3 Young Kids — Killed In DC Plane Crash

Stamford Mayor Caroline Simmons also issued a statement to Patch on Friday.

"I am devastated to hear that Stamford resident Christopher Collins was among those who tragically lost their lives in the recent aviation accident in Washington D.C. My thoughts are with Christopher’s family and friends during this difficult time, and all the families who have suffered from this unimaginable tragedy," Simmons said.

A U.S. Army UH-60 helicopter on a training exercise out of Fort Belvoir, Va. collided with American Eagle Flight 5342, operated by PSA Airlines, shortly before 9 p.m. on Jan. 29 near Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C.

There were 60 passengers and four crew members aboard the flight, and three soldiers on the Black Hawk helicopter.

A recovery effort is still ongoing at the crash site, as is an investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board.

A preliminary report on what caused the mid-air collision is expected from the NTSB within 30 days.