Chris Collins, 42, a UMass Dartmouth graduate and Dighton native, was among the 67 victims of the Washington, D.C. plane crash between American Eagle Flight 5342 and a Black Hawk helicopter.

“Our family is devastated by the loss of Chris, our beloved husband, son, brother and uncle,” Collin’s family said in a statement.

The mid-air collision occurred around 9 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29 when Flight 5342, which was flying from Wichita, Kansas, was preparing for landing at the Reagan National Airport. The Black Hawk helicopter was on a training flight, according to Heater Chariez, the Joint Task Force-National Capital Region media chief.

Sixty-four of the crash victims were on Flight 5342 and three were aboard the helicopter in what is the United States’ deadliest plane crash since November 2001.

Collins was a “true adventurer” who had a passion for the outdoors and a “lifelong love” of animals,” his family wrote.

“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,” Collins’ family wrote in a statement. “He will be in our hearts forever.”

Collins graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree from UMass and went on to Brown University for a Master of Arts in public policy analysis, according to his LinkedIn profile

He worked as Vice President — Senior Analyst at Moody’s Investors Service and was traveling with colleague Melissa Nicandri on a business trip.

“Chris and Melissa were cherished colleagues who embodied our values and enriched our lives with kindness and warmth,” the company said in a statement.