A devastating midair collision between an American Airlines plane and a U.S. Army helicopter over the Potomac River has left all 64 people on board the plane and three soldiers in the chopper feared dead, officials said Thursday.
The incident, which occurred Wednesday night near Ronald Reagan National Airport, is being described as the worst U.S. aviation disaster in nearly 24 years.
Authorities recovered at least 28 bodies from the icy waters as emergency crews continued searching for victims. With no signs of survivors, officials have shifted their focus from rescue efforts to recovery.
“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. “We don’t believe there are any survivors.”
The wreckage of the passenger jet, which was carrying 60 travelers and four crew members, was found upside down and split into three sections in shallow water.
The military helicopter’s remains were also located nearby. Search teams extended their operations as far south as the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, approximately three miles from the airport.
Authorities have yet to determine the cause of the collision, but weather conditions were reported as clear.
American Airlines Flight 5342, arriving from Wichita, Kansas, was on its final approach when the military helicopter entered its flight path.
“On final approach into Reagan National it collided with a military aircraft on an otherwise normal approach,” said American Airlines CEO Robert Isom. “At this time, we don’t know why the military aircraft came into the path of the … aircraft.”
The Army helicopter, a UH-60 Blackhawk from Fort Belvoir, was on a routine training flight with three soldiers on board.
Debris from the crash was scattered across the river, with images showing boats surrounding a partially submerged wing and what remained of the plane’s fuselage.
Investigators are working to reconstruct the final moments before impact, reviewing flight data, radio transmissions, and altitude readings.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy acknowledged the severity of the tragedy, emphasizing the government’s commitment to uncovering the truth.
“I would just say that everyone who flies in American skies expects that we fly safely,” Duffy stated. “That when you depart an airport, you get to your destination. That didn’t happen last night and I know that President Trump, his administration, the FAA, the DOT, we will not rest until we have answers for the families and for the flying public. You should be assured that when you fly, you’re safe.”
The Federal Aviation Administration initially closed Reagan National Airport following the accident but later announced plans to reopen it at 11 a.m. Thursday, earlier than the previously expected 5 a.m. Friday.
Duffy reassured the public about the safety of U.S. air travel.
“Can I guarantee the American flying public that the United States has the most safe and secure airspace in the world? And the answer to that is, absolutely yes, we do,” he said. “We have early indicators of what happened here. And I will tell you with complete confidence that we have the safest airspace in the world.”
Deadliest U.S. Airline Disaster in Over Two Decades
If confirmed, the fatalities from this crash would make it the deadliest U.S. airline disaster since November 12, 2001, when an American Airlines jet crashed in Belle Harbor, New York, killing all 260 people aboard.
The last major commercial airline crash in the U.S. occurred in 2009 near Buffalo, New York, where 50 people lost their lives.
The American Airlines flight carried a group of figure skaters, their coaches, and family members returning from a development camp following the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita.
“We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts,” U.S. Figure Skating said in a statement.
Among those on board were renowned Russian figure skaters Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, as confirmed by the Kremlin. The pair, who won the 1994 world championship and competed in two Olympic Games, were coaching in the U.S. Their son, Maxim Naumov, is also a competitive figure skater for the United States.
Collision in Highly Restricted Airspace
The crash occurred in one of the most controlled airspaces in the world, just three miles south of the White House and Capitol. The aircraft’s radio transponder data showed that Flight 5342 was flying at around 400 feet and 140 mph when it suddenly lost altitude over the Potomac River.
Shortly before the collision, air traffic controllers had requested that the jet land on Reagan National’s shorter Runway 33. The pilots agreed, adjusted their approach, and received clearance for landing.
As the plane neared the airport, controllers radioed the military helicopter, asking if it had visual contact with the incoming jet. Moments later, another call was made: “PAT 25 pass behind the CRJ.” The crash occurred seconds later.
Flight tracking data indicates that the jet’s transponder signal abruptly stopped transmitting about 2,400 feet short of the runway—right over the river.
A nearby observation camera at the Kennedy Center captured the horrifying moment, showing two sets of aircraft lights converging before erupting into a fireball.
Military helicopters routinely operate in the restricted airspace surrounding Washington, D.C., conducting training flights and security exercises. The investigation is expected to focus on air traffic control instructions, the helicopter’s altitude and position, and whether all protocols were properly followed before the crash.
