Attorney who caught early flight to celebrate birthday with boyfriend among dead in DC plane crash

A Washington-based attorney was on the doomed American Airlines plane because she had made a last-minute decision to fly back early to celebrate her birthday with her boyfriend after a business trip.Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Keys, newly 33, was aboard American Eagle Flight 5342 to make it home in time to meet David Seidman, her partner of six years, for dinner — when the plane collided midair with a U.S.

Army Black Hawk helicopter Wednesday night.The couple had plans to dine at Maydan, a Northwest DC hotspot before hosting friends at a joint birthday party on Saturday, as Seidman’s birthday is Sunday, according to The Washington Post.“She was just the best partner and so special, had such a sharp wit, and just really pushed everyone around her to be the best version of themselves,” Seidman, who never saw Keys land for their celebratory date, told The Enquirer.Her family shared they are experiencing “unbearable sorrow” following the loss of Keys, who they described as an incredibly ambitious young attorney and valedictorian of her high school class in Cincinnati, according to a statement provided to WLWT5 by Keys’s parents, Mary and Martin Keys.“Liz had a sharp wit and appreciated it in others. Gatherings were always better when Liz was there; she was filled with light and joy.

Liz was a dear friend to so many, offering her best self to them all,” Mary Keys said.“Elizabeth was strong and fearless — she embraced life at full speed.… Every weekend was full: Liz and David especially loved hosting their friends around their fire pit at their home in DC,” she said, adding the crash occurred on the day of Keys’ 33rd birthday.“Words cannot express how deeply Elizabeth, my Bitsy, will be missed.

We are filled with unbearable sorrow and despair at our loss.”Keys was a graduate of Madeira High School in 2010 and went on to graduate from Tufts University in 2014, where she was a member of the Varsity sailing team, according to her family.She then ...