World War II veteran Frank Louis Manchel’s life ended suddenly on Sunday amid a return flight to San Diego from Washington, D.C., where he spent the weekend surrounded by family, friends and other veterans who were honored for their service.

“It was almost instantaneous,” Dave Smith, founder of Honor Flight San Diego, told the San Diego Union-Tribune. “He was laughing, chatting, having a good time – and then he collapsed.”

Two physicians on board the American Airlines flight, including Manchel’s son, attempted to revive the 95-year-old Michigan native to no avail. Manchel was one of 82 other veterans, “guardians,” family and volunteers who spent the weekend in D.C. courtesy of Honor Flight San Diego, a charity that sends veterans and their families on all-expenses-paid trips to the capital to tour the memorials in their honor and other historic sites.

Manchel’s sons, as well as his 93-year-old brother and other family, escorted the former U.S. Army sergeant on the trip, which included stops at the World War II Memorial, the Korean War Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, the Air Force Memorial, the Navy Yard museum among others, the Union-Tribune reports.

“He was 100 percent engaged, proud, humble – as these veterans are,” said Shelley Zimmerman, a former San Diego police chief and daughter of a WWII veteran, who was on the flight. “You could just tell how proud they all were of him. It was just wonderful, a loving, loving family.”

Bruce Manchel told FOX 5 San Diego that despite the sudden nature of his father’s passing, it “was the ending to the most amazing weekend, surrounded by his newest best friends.”

Around 1:30 p.m. Sunday, as the flight made its final leg into San Diego, Manchel suddenly stood up and then fell to the floor. He was unresponsive despite over 12 minutes of CPR, the Union-Tribune reports.

“The fella who caught my dad came up to me and said, ‘Listen, your dad, within five seconds of having him in my arms was gone,” Bruce Manchel told FOX 5.

Chaplains on board the flight prayed over the veteran’s body, which was draped with an American flag.

Shortly after, Zimmerman asked Bruce Manchel for a special request.

“If you are up to this,” she said, “to honor your father, let’s sing ‘God Bless America.’”

The entire plane belted out the patriotic anthem as the flight descended into San Diego.

Upon landing, each veteran saluted Manchel as they exited the plane. Zimmerman supervised the removal of the body through the rear – protocol for fallen officers and soldiers.

Police, fire, medical and law enforcement personnel also saluted Manchel as his body was escorted from the aircraft, the Times-Union reports.

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“We thank all of you – Honor Flight San Diego, American Airlines, San Diego International Airport, friends, and supporters for your concern and for allowing the weekend to be so special for all of us to share together,” Bruce Manchel said.

“Frank passed quickly and peacefully and the compassion and respect that was shown too our family will always be treasured,” he said. “May he rest in peace as he is now with his other beloved son Jimmy.”

Smith said Manchel’s death is a first for Honor Flight San Diego, but six other veterans have died on flights through Honor Flight branches in other cities. Since 2010, Honor Flight San Diego has taken about 1,400 veterans to Washington, D.C., while the broader organization has sent 143,834 veterans to D.C. since 2005.

American Airlines is now covering the cost to transport Manchel’s body and family back to Michigan, where his family is planning services.

“We know this is a potential situation,” Smith said. “We want to honor these veterans, but this is one of our worst fears that this might happen. We do everything we can to make sure these veterans are safe.”