A tragic mid-air collision between a passenger plane and a military helicopter near Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, DC, has left at least 19 people dead, with fears that the death toll could rise significantly.
The crash, which occurred at around 9pm on Wednesday (02:00 GMT Thursday), sent both aircraft plunging into the icy waters of the Potomac River, sparking a massive search-and-rescue operation involving hundreds of first responders.
The PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 jet, operating as American Airlines Flight 5342, was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members. The Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, owned by the US Army, had three personnel on board. Both aircraft crashed into the river after colliding mid-air, with no immediate word on survivors.
A Desperate Search in Frigid Waters
Washington, DC, fire chief John Donnelly described the rescue operation as "highly complex" and "extremely rough" due to high winds, low visibility, cold weather, and murky water. "We’re operating under a unified command. Everybody’s together," Donnelly said during a press conference on Thursday.
Inflatable rescue boats were launched into the Potomac River, and light towers were set up along the shore to aid the search. Despite the efforts of approximately 300 responders, the conditions have made the operation challenging. "We don’t know yet if there are any survivors," Donnelly added.
Reports from media outlets, including NBC Washington and the BBC, indicate that 19 bodies have been recovered so far. Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas, where the flight originated, painted a grim picture, stating, "When one person dies, it’s a tragedy, but when many, many, many people die, it’s an unbearable sorrow."
The Moment of Impact
Air traffic control recordings obtained by CNN from LiveATC.net capture the tense moments leading up to the collision. An air traffic controller can be heard asking the helicopter pilot, "PAT 2-5, do you have the CRJ in sight?" The controller then instructs, "PAT 2-5, pass behind the CRJ."
Less than 13 seconds later, audible gasps and a loud "oooh" are heard in the background, followed by a pilot reporting, "Yeah, we were on short final, and we saw flares from the opposite side of the Potomac."
Video footage from a webcam at the nearby Kennedy Center captured the moment of impact, showing a massive explosion lighting up the night sky. An air traffic controller later confirmed, "Apparently both aircraft involved are in the river, a search and rescue will be ongoing."
A Community in Mourning
The passengers on the American Airlines flight included several members of the US Figure Skating community, including athletes, coaches, and family members returning from the National Development Camp in Wichita, Kansas. US Figure Skating confirmed their presence on the flight but did not provide further details.
At the airport, relatives of the passengers gathered in a somber atmosphere, desperate for information. One woman, visibly distraught, told an airport official, "I don’t know if she got on there or not," before collapsing in tears.
Investigations Underway
The Pentagon has launched an immediate investigation into the incident. Former President Donald Trump weighed in on the tragedy, blaming the helicopter crew and air traffic controllers in a post on Truth Social. "The helicopter was going straight at the airplane for an extended period of time. It is a CLEAR NIGHT, the lights on the plane were blazing, why didn’t the helicopter go up or down, or turn?" Trump wrote.
He continued, "Why didn’t the control tower tell the helicopter what to do instead of asking if they saw the plane. This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented. NOT GOOD!!!"
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom expressed condolences in a video statement, saying, "We’re cooperating with the National Transportation Safety Board in its investigation and will continue to provide all the information we can."
A History of Tragedy
This is not the first aviation disaster to occur near Washington, DC. In 1982, Air Florida Flight 90 crashed into the 14th Street Bridge over the Potomac River, killing 70 passengers and four crew members. The last major commercial airliner crash in the US occurred in 2009, when a Colgan Air flight crashed in New York state, claiming 49 lives.
As the search-and-rescue operation continues, the focus remains on recovering victims and providing answers to grieving families. The airport remains closed until at least 11am on Thursday, with flights diverted to other locations.
