DC Fire: Midair Collision Kills All 67 on Board; No Survivors Expected/ 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, sending both aircraft into the icy waters of the Potomac River. No survivors are expected, with at least 28 bodies recovered so far. The crash, which occurred in one of the most tightly controlled airspaces in the world, is now being investigated by the FAA and the U.S. Army. Among the victims were U.S. and Russian figure skaters returning from the 2025 U.S. Figure Skating Championships. Reagan National Airport remains temporarily closed as recovery efforts continue.
Midair Collision Near Washington, D.C.: Quick Looks
- Fatal Midair Crash: A passenger jet and U.S. Army helicopter collided over the Potomac, with no survivors expected.
- Recovery Efforts Underway: At least 28 bodies have been recovered, and the search for victims continues.
- Victims Include Figure Skaters: U.S. and Russian figure skaters, coaches, and family members were among those on board.
- Reagan National Airport Closed: All flights were halted, with operations set to resume at 11 a.m. Thursday.
- FAA, Army Launch Investigation: Authorities are examining air traffic communications, flight paths, and debris to determine the cause.
DC Fire: Midair Collision Kills All 67 on Board; No Survivors Expected
Deep Look
How the Crash Happened
The collision occurred at 9 p.m. Wednesday night as American Airlines Flight 5342 was preparing to land at Reagan National Airport after departing from Wichita, Kansas.
- Air traffic controllers instructed the jet to switch to a shorter runway.
- Controllers asked the Army helicopter if it had the plane in sight but received no response.
- Seconds later, the two aircraft collided over the Potomac River.
“On final approach into Reagan National, it collided with a military aircraft on an otherwise normal approach,” said American Airlines CEO Robert Isom.
What We Know About the Aircraft Involved
- American Airlines Flight 5342: A Bombardier CRJ-701 twin-engine jet, configured for up to 70 passengers.
- U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk Helicopter: Conducting a training flight from Fort Belvoir, Virginia, with three soldiers onboard.
Victims Include Figure Skaters and Coaches
Among the passengers on board were several U.S. and Russian figure skaters returning from the 2025 U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Kansas.
- Russian skating champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were confirmed among the deceased.
- The pair won the 1994 world championship in pairs figure skating and coached in the U.S.
- Their son, Maxim Naumov, is a competitive skater for Team USA.
“We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts,” said U.S. Figure Skating.
Investigation: What Went Wrong?
Authorities are now focused on reconstructing the events leading to the crash, including:
- Air traffic control communications
- Flight path adjustments
- The helicopter’s position and movement before impact
“We have early indicators of what happened here,” said Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, though he declined to elaborate further pending the investigation.
- Duffy confirmed that weather conditions were clear, with both aircraft in standard flight patterns.
- The FAA and military investigators are examining whether the jet’s last-minute runway change contributed to the crash.
Airport Disruptions & Response
- Reagan National Airport was immediately shut down after the crash.
- The FAA has announced plans to reopen the airport at 11 a.m. Thursday.
- President Donald Trump has been briefed on the tragedy and vowed to ensure accountability.
“We will not rest until we have answers for the families and for the flying public,” said Duffy.
Deadliest U.S. Airline Disaster in Nearly 25 Years
- American Airlines Flight 587 crashed near Queens, New York, killing 260 people on board.
- In 2009, a Bombardier DHC-8 crashed near Buffalo, New York, killing 50 people.
The crash also recalls the 1982 Air Florida disaster, in which a passenger jet crashed into the Potomac River, killing 78 people.
What’s Next?
With all passengers presumed dead, the FAA and U.S. Army are leading a full-scale investigation to determine the cause of this tragic midair collision.
As the nation mourns, investigators will work to reconstruct the crash and prevent future air disasters.
“Everyone who flies in American skies expects that we fly safely. That didn’t happen last night,” said Duffy.
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