A close family friend of the Livingston family, tragically killed in the mid-air collision involving American Airlines Flight 5342, is speaking out. Jin Ah Longerbeam shared heartbreaking photos taken just before takeoff by Donna Livingston, showing her daughters, Everly and Alydia, smiling in their seats, and Donna and her husband, Peter, taking a selfie.

The girls, who had attended an elite ice skating camp, were remembered as bright stars in their skating community by Wolfe Jin, a longtime friend. His mother, Jin Ah, recalled the devastating moment when they rushed to the airport, still holding onto hope, but faced the grim reality of the crash.

Peter Livingston was described as a devoted father who made his daughters’ dreams a priority, even building a homemade rink in their backyard. The crash claimed 67 lives, including 60 passengers, four crew members, and three U.S. Army soldiers, with human error suspected in the cause.

As the nation mourns, friends and loved ones are left heartbroken, holding on to the final images of a family whose journey ended too soon.