Ian Epstein, the flight attendant known for his kindness and love for family, is not related to David Epstein, the journalist and bestselling author known for his work in investigative reporting and performance science.
He had been a Virginia flight attendant who enjoyed traveling to different parts of the country and meeting new people.
Highlights
- Ian Epstein was the flight attendant; meanwhile, David Epstein was the journalist who shared identical surnames.
- The flight attendant passed away in the plane crash, leaving his children and wife.
- The novelist has a wife and a son. However, he has no familial ties with Ian Epstein.
Epstein could always make someone smile and light up a room; he was filled with life.
Similarly, David Epstein is an American journalist and author who authored two best-selling books, Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World and The Sports Gene: Inside the Science of Extraordinary Athletic Performance.
Also, he has given TED talks, which have been viewed over 12 million times.
Despite sharing similar surnames, Ian Epstein and David Epstein are not related.
Ian Epstein, one of the flight attendants working for PSA Airlines, became a victim while working on American Airlines Flight 5342, which crashed while landing in Washinton, D.C.
His family shared the heartbreaking moment and pain, requesting prayer as they prepare to travel to D.C. to make arrangements.
Ian Epstein was one of the crew members who lost their lives on Flight 5342. What a good soul. May his memory be a blessing.
“Try to take a smile into the world.” Ian Epstein
📷Credit: IG aflyguytravels pic.twitter.com/QZcxLWS35x— Jessie Hikes 🇺🇸 🌲 (@TrailTimeJessie) February 1, 2025
Originally from Miami, FL, Epstein was a resident of Charlotte, NC, and graduated from the University of South Florida and then continued to study art at Sweet Briar College.
Moreover, the flight attendant was engaged to Josh Rowley, a fantastic dad and stepdad to Hannah Epstein, Joanna Epstein, and Kayla Morgan.
His daughter shared:
I will always love you dad. I hope you told your dad jokes and felt on top of the world. These next days, months, and years won’t ever be the same now that you’re gone.Thank you to everyone celebrating my father, Ian Epstein. He loved every moment of his job.
Our family would like to thank everyone for the Love and Stories as we navigated laying our loved one Ian Epstein to rest.
David Epstein: A Bestselling Author and Investigative Journalist Has No Familial Ties With Late Ian Epstein
David Epstein, whose works have been hailed by many prominent figures, including Barack Obama and Condoleezza Rice, was born and raised in the United States.
Moreover, the author holds master’s degrees in environmental science and journalism.
Soon to do my first virtual presentation with @opalcamera…playing around with turning the video on/off with a peace sign. (Thanks for the rec @alexisohanian!) pic.twitter.com/uT3qyLwpAW
— David Epstein (@DavidEpstein) August 18, 2022
He has had a diverse career, working as an ecology researcher in the Arctic and studying geology and astronomy in the Sonoran Desert.
The journalist has kept most of the information about his family private, though he has shared his wife and son in personal anecdotes.
He has told a story about the birth of his son; it would seem he became a father while he was finalizing his best-selling novel.
Although the writer and the late flight attendant who tragically passed away in the plane crash, Ian Epstein, share a similar nationality and surname, they have no blood relation.
Both live entirely different lives, David in journalism and Ian in aviation, but each made an impact in their respective fields.
Additional Information
- Ian Epstein’s net worth is estimated to be around $1 million; meanwhile, David Epstein’s net worth is around $5 million as of 2025.
- The flight attendant grew up with his sister, Robbie Epstein Bloom, in Charlotte, North Carolina.
- The journalist has kept his family information to himself, keeping them away from the media.
