Reagan Airport Tragedy: New Details on Passenger Jet, Army Helicopter Crash 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 approaching 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 FAA and military investigators are piecing together the moments leading up to the crash, which occurred in one of the most tightly monitored airspaces in the world. The victims include U.S. and Russian figure skaters returning from the 2025 U.S. Figure Skating Championships.
Key Details on the Reagan Airport Collision: Quick Looks
- Fatal Midair Collision: A commercial jet and a U.S. Army helicopter crashed over the Potomac River, with all aboard feared dead.
- Rescue Becomes Recovery: At least 28 bodies have been pulled from the water, with officials no longer expecting survivors.
- Victims Include Figure Skaters: U.S. and Russian athletes and coaches returning from a skating competition in Kansas were on board.
- Reagan Airport Closure: All flights at Reagan National Airport were halted, with operations set to resume at 11 a.m. Thursday.
- FAA, Army Investigating Crash: Authorities are examining flight paths, air traffic control communications, and crash debris.
Reagan Airport Tragedy: New Details on Passenger Jet, Army Helicopter Crash
Timeline and Details of the Midair Collision
How the Crash Happened
- Air traffic controllers requested the plane adjust its landing approach to a shorter runway.
- Moments before impact, a controller asked the Army helicopter pilot if they had the jet in sight.
- The controller then instructed the helicopter to pass behind the jet, but seconds later, the two aircraft collided.
The plane’s radio transponder stopped transmitting about 2,400 feet short of the runway, signaling the moment of impact.
Search and Recovery Efforts
Authorities immediately launched a massive search-and-rescue operation, but by Thursday morning, the focus shifted to recovery.
“We are now at the point where we are switching from a rescue operation to a recovery operation,” said D.C. Fire Chief John Donnelly.
- 300 first responders were deployed to scan the river for survivors and wreckage.
- Inflatable rescue boats and helicopters searched the crash site overnight.
- Light towers were set up along the George Washington Parkway to illuminate the search area.
Victims Identified, Including Figure Skaters
Among those on board were:
- Russian figure skating champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, former world champions and coaches.
- Several U.S. and Russian figure skaters, along with coaches and family members returning from the 2025 U.S. Figure Skating Championships.
“We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy,” said U.S. Figure Skating in a statement.
Reagan National Airport Closure and Response
- All takeoffs and landings were halted at Reagan National Airport following the crash.
- The FAA announced the airport will reopen at 11 a.m. Thursday.
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that weather conditions were clear, stating the flight paths “were not unusual for D.C. airspace.”
“Everyone who flies in American skies expects that we fly safely. That didn’t happen last night,” Duffy said.
Investigation and Aircraft Involved
Investigators are analyzing flight data and communications to determine:
- Why the military helicopter was in the jet’s flight path.
- If there were any miscommunications between air traffic controllers and the pilots.
- How the crash occurred despite the heavy security around Washington’s airspace.
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: Based at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, conducting a training flight with three soldiers on board.
Historical Context: One of the Deadliest U.S. Air Crashes in Decades
Fatal commercial plane crashes in the U.S. have become rare in recent decades. The last occurred in:
- 2009: A Bombardier DHC-8 propeller plane crashed near Buffalo, New York, killing 50 people.
- 1982: An Air Florida flight crashed into the Potomac River, killing 78 people—one of the worst air disasters in D.C.’s history.
The Reagan Airport collision is now one of the deadliest U.S. aviation disasters in over 20 years.
Final Thoughts: What’s Next in the Investigation?
With all 64 passengers and crew members feared dead, the FAA and Army will lead a full-scale investigation into what caused this devastating crash. The tragedy has shocked the aviation world, leaving families mourning and authorities demanding answers.
“We will not rest until we have answers for the families and for the flying public,” Duffy stated.
As the investigation unfolds, officials will work to understand how two aircraft collided in some of the most restricted airspace in the world.
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