28 Bodies Recovered After American Airlines Jet, Military Helicopter Crash in DC/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ An American Airlines jet carrying 60 passengers and four crew members collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter while landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport, killing all on board. The wreckage was found in the Potomac River, with rescue crews shifting to a recovery operation. The crash, which occurred in one of the nation’s most heavily monitored airspaces, is under investigation by federal authorities. Among the victims were U.S. and Russian figure skaters returning from a competition in Wichita, Kansas. President Donald Trump has been briefed on the tragedy, and the FAA has announced a temporary closure of Reagan Airport.
Deadly Midair Collision Over Potomac: Quick Looks
- Fatal Collision Near D.C.: An American Airlines Bombardier CRJ-701 jet collided with a U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River.
- Recovery Effort Underway: At least 28 bodies have been recovered, with no survivors expected.
- Crash Investigation Begins: The FAA and Army are investigating why the military aircraft entered the commercial plane’s flight path.
- Figure Skaters Among Victims: Several U.S. and Russian figure skaters, along with coaches and family members, were on board.
- Reagan Airport Closure: The FAA has temporarily shut down the airport, with plans to reopen by 11 a.m. Thursday.
28 Bodies Recovered After American Airlines Jet, Military Helicopter Crash in DC
Midair Collision Near Washington Kills Dozens, No Survivors Expected
Crash Details: Plane Collides with Army Helicopter Over Potomac
A routine landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport turned tragic Wednesday night when American Airlines Flight 5342, arriving from Wichita, Kansas, collided with a U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter.
The twin-engine jet was descending at about 400 feet and 140 mph when it suddenly lost altitude over the Potomac River, just three miles from the White House. Moments before impact, an air traffic controller instructed the military helicopter to pass behind the jet—but the two aircraft collided seconds later.
“We are now at the point where we are switching from a rescue operation to a recovery operation,” said Washington D.C. Fire Chief John Donnelly.
The wreckage of both aircraft was found in waist-deep, icy waters, with parts of the plane’s fuselage and a wing visible above the surface.
Victims Include U.S. and Russian Figure Skaters
Among the passengers on board were several U.S. and Russian figure skaters, their coaches, and family members, returning from a development camp following the U.S. Figure Skating Championships.
“We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy,” said U.S. Figure Skating in a statement.
Russian authorities confirmed that Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, former world champion figure skaters and U.S.-based coaches, were among the deceased.
Federal Investigation Launched
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Army investigators are now piecing together what led to the midair collision in one of the nation’s most tightly controlled airspaces.
Authorities are examining:
- Air traffic control communications
- The military helicopter’s flight path
- Whether the commercial jet had clearance for its runway adjustment
“At this time we don’t know why the military aircraft came into the path of the… aircraft,” said American Airlines CEO Robert Isom.
White House Response & National Mourning
“May God bless their souls,” Trump said in a statement.
Airport & Airspace Disruptions
- Reagan National Airport was temporarily closed after the crash, but FAA officials plan to reopen it by 11 a.m. Thursday.
- Flights were rerouted to Dulles International Airport and Baltimore/Washington International Airport, causing major travel disruptions.
Final Thoughts: One of the Deadliest U.S. Air Crashes in Decades
- A full-scale investigation is underway, with the FAA and military working to determine how the crash occurred in such a high-security airspace.
- With 64 people aboard the jet and three Army personnel in the helicopter, this tragedy ranks among the worst aviation disasters in recent memory.
- Officials are now focused on recovering all victims and preventing future incidents in the crowded airspace around the nation’s capital.
As the nation mourns, investigators are left to piece together the final moments of a flight that never should have ended this way.
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