SC university graduate was in DC plane crash. Here’s what we know

A Bob Jones University graduate was among the passengers on the American Airlines flight that crashed into the Potomac River Wednesday night.

Casey Crafton was a 2008 graduate who studied aviation management, a Facebook post from the Bob Jones Alumni Association said.

His wife Rachel Gadbois Crafton graduated from Bob Jones the same year and studied graphic design. They lived in Salem, Connecticut, and have three sons, Greyson, Easton, and Knox.

He worked as a technical services manager for Guardian Jet, an aircraft broker based in Connecticut, according to his Linked In page.

BJU President Josh Crockett, who taught Crafton in speech class, said in a statement, “He was friendly, kind and loved by many of his peers.”

Steve Allen, a BJU Public Safety employee, said, “I knew Casey and his family from our church and school. I had the privilege of coaching Casey his junior and senior years of high school at Central Baptist School in Memphis TN. He was a team player and took seriously his role of making those around him better. “He loved God, his family and his teammates.”

Rachel and Casey met at Bob Jones and were married on her family’s farm in Salem, said Larry Hunt, who performed the wedding and has known Rachel since she was a baby.

Crafton’s funeral is set for Feb. 12, but the location has not yet been announced.

The alumni association post said, “Please pray for Rachel, their 3 young sons and the rest of the family as they grieve the loss of Casey. The Crafton family shared this link as a way to show your support: https://mealtrain.com/yrz79e.”

So far, $80,921 of a $200,000 goal had been reached by Friday afternoon. The family also has a gofundme page.

Connecticut State Sen. Martha Marx said on Facebook, “The airline tragedy in Washington, D.C., last night has deeply impacted our Salem community. My heart goes out to the Crafton-Gadbois family during this unimaginable time. I ask our community to keep them in your prayers as they navigate this profound loss.”

All 64 people aboard the plane are presumed dead as are the three aboard the helicopter involved in the collision.

Crafton was heavily involved in youth sports in Salem, a rural town of about 4,000 residents between Hartford and the ocean. Salem’s First Selectman Ed Chmielewski wrote a letter posted to the town’s website saying Crafton was a member of the Recreation Commission and a Little League coach.

“He was known for his warm smile and kindness,” Chmielewski said.

He also volunteered for Montville Youth Soccer and “helped to enrich the lives of all those that he came in contact with,” the program said on Facebook.

This story was originally published January 31, 2025 at 3:09 PM.