Arlington, Jan 31: A tragic midair collision involving an Army helicopter and a regional jet resulted in the loss of all 67 individuals on both aircraft, officials reported on Thursday. This incident marks the deadliest aviation catastrophe in the U.S. in nearly 25 years.
Rescuers have retrieved at least 28 bodies from the frigid waters of the Potomac River after the helicopter apparently intersected with the path of the American Airlines jet, which was landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport late on Wednesday. The plane was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, while the helicopter had three soldiers on board.
President Donald Trump announced during a White House briefing that there were no survivors.
“We are transitioning from a rescue operation to a recovery operation,” said John Donnelly, the fire chief of Washington, D.C.
The mishap occurred just before 9 PM in one of the most monitored airspaces globally, located slightly over three miles (about 4.8 kilometers) south of both the White House and Capitol.
Investigations into air crashes can take substantial time, and federal officials have refrained from speculating about the cause.
Officials from the National Transportation Safety Board have recovered both the cockpit voice recorder and the flight data recorder from the Bombardier CRJ700 aircraft, according to agency spokesperson Peter Knudson. These devices are currently being analyzed in the agency’s laboratories.
The jet was discovered upside down in three pieces within waist-deep water, with first responders scouring several miles of the Potomac for wreckage, Donnelly reported. The remains of the helicopter were also located. Images from the scene depicted boats surrounding the partially submerged wing and the twisted wreck of the plane’s fuselage.
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom stated that the jet was on a standard approach when “the military aircraft entered its path.”
A report by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) noted that one air traffic controller was managing both helicopter and aircraft traffic at the moment of the collision. Typically, these responsibilities are split between two individuals, but with traffic levels decreasing at 9:30 PM, the airport often combines these roles. On the day of the incident, the tower supervisor opted to merge the functions earlier.
“The position configuration was not typical for the time of day or traffic volume,” the report indicated. However, an unnamed source confirmed that staffing levels in the control tower that evening were normal.
This practice of combining positions is standard procedure during breaks, shift changes, or low traffic conditions, the source added.
The FAA has long faced challenges related to air traffic controller shortages.
Officials reported that flight conditions were clear as the jet arrived from Wichita, Kansas, carrying a mix that included elite young figure skaters, their families, coaches, and four union steamfitters from the Washington area.
An Army aviation official emphasized that the helicopter crew, flying a Black Hawk, was “very experienced” and accustomed to the busy airspace around the city.
“Both pilots had flown this specific route before, even at night. This wasn’t new territory for them,” stated Jonathan Koziol, chief of staff for Army aviation.
Koziol noted that the helicopter’s maximum permissible altitude at the time was 200 feet (about 60 meters). Although it remains unclear if this limit was breached, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth remarked that altitude appeared to play a role in the incident.
Koziol stressed that investigators need to evaluate the flight data before drawing conclusions regarding altitude.
Trump began the press conference with a moment of silence in remembrance of the victims, referring to the event as an “hour of anguish” for the nation.
However, he predominantly focused on attributing blame for the tragedy, criticizing former President Joe Biden’s administration and diversity initiatives at the FAA, asserting they contributed to declining standards—despite acknowledging that the cause of the crash remains unknown.
Without presenting evidence, Trump implicated air traffic controllers, the helicopter pilots, and Democratic policies at federal agencies. He claimed that the FAA was “actively hiring individuals with significant intellectual disabilities, psychiatric issues, and other health conditions under a diversity and inclusion hiring program.”
At Reagan National, the atmosphere was heavy with grief as stranded passengers awaited the resumption of flights, avoiding cameras while gazing out at the Potomac, where recovery efforts were only faintly discernible.
Aster Andemicael had been at the airport since the previous night with her elderly father, who was traveling to Indiana to visit family. She spent the long night reflecting on the victims and their loved ones.
“I’ve been crying since yesterday,” Andemicael said, her voice trembling. “This is heartbreaking.”
Flights resumed around midday.
The deadliest aviation incident since November 2001
Wednesday’s collision stands as the deadliest aviation disaster in the United States since November 12, 2001, when an American Airlines flight crashed into a residential area in Belle Harbor, New York, shortly after taking off from Kennedy Airport, claiming the lives of all 260 people on board and five individuals on the ground.
The prior major fatal incident involving a U.S. commercial airline occurred in 2009 near Buffalo, New York, resulting in the deaths of everyone aboard a Bombardier DHC-8 propeller plane and one person on the ground, totaling 50 casualties.
Despite the tragedy, experts acknowledge that air travel is exceptionally safe. The National Safety Council estimates that Americans face a 1-in-93 chance of dying in a car accident, while aircraft fatalities occur too infrequently to calculate precise odds. Data from the Department of Transportation supports this perspective.
The airspace surrounding Reagan National presents challenges to even seasoned pilots, regardless of conditions. Pilots must navigate hundreds of commercial flights, military operations, and restricted zones near sensitive locations.
Just over 24 hours prior to the disaster, another regional jet had to circle back for another approach to Reagan National after being alerted about a nearby military helicopter, based on flight tracking data and control logs. It landed successfully minutes later.
Wichita reeling from the tragedy
The crash has left the city of Wichita in mourning, a community proud of its heartland identity. Wichita recently hosted the U.S. Figure Skating Championships and training camps for top young skaters.
As a historical hub for the aircraft industry since the inception of commercial flight, the city houses the U.S. headquarters for Bombardier, the manufacturer of the jet involved. Many regional jobs are tied to the aviation sector, making the local economy sensitive to downturns in sales.
Hundreds gathered in the city council chambers for a prayer vigil.
“We will overcome this together,” stated Rev. Pamela Hughes Mason of St. Paul AME Church.
Collision in a highly regulated airspace
Flight 5342 was approaching Reagan National at an altitude of roughly 400 feet (122 meters) and a speed of about 140 mph (225 kph) when it abruptly lost altitude over the Potomac, as indicated by data from its radio transponder. The Canadian-made Bombardier CRJ-700 twin-engine aircraft, built in 2004, can accommodate up to 70 passengers.
Minutes before the crash, air traffic controllers directed the jet to a shorter runway, as tracking data demonstrated an adjustment in its approach.
Less than 30 seconds prior to the collision, an air traffic controller inquired whether the helicopter had visual contact with the incoming plane.
A crew member confirmed they had the aircraft in sight and requested “visual separation,” which allows closer proximity than typically permitted when pilots can see the other plane. Controllers granted the request.
Moments later, the two aircraft collided. (AP)