What We Know About the American Airlines and Black Hawk Helicopter Crash in Washington, D.C.
Sixty-four people, including passengers, crew members, and military personnel, are presumed dead as recovery efforts continue.
WASHINGTON — A devastating midair collision near Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday night claimed the lives of all 64 people aboard an American Eagle jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter.
Both aircraft plunged into the Potomac River following the crash, which occurred shortly before 9 p.m. ET. The Black Hawk was carrying three military personnel at the time.
A National Tragedy
Speaking from the White House on Thursday morning, President Donald Trump described the incident as a "tragedy of terrible proportions," confirming that there were no survivors.
“This was a dark and excruciating night in our nation’s capital and in our nation’s history," Trump said. "As one nation, we grieve for every precious soul taken from us so suddenly.”
Details About the Plane
American Eagle Flight 5342, operated by American Airlines, was en route from Wichita, Kansas, to Reagan National Airport when the collision occurred. The aircraft was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members.
American Airlines has stated it is fully cooperating with authorities and assisting with response efforts. “Our deepest concern is for the passengers and crew on board the aircraft,” the airline said in a statement.
The Black Hawk Helicopter
The U.S. Army confirmed that the helicopter involved was a UH-60 Black Hawk from Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the helicopter crew was highly experienced and was conducting an annual proficiency training flight when the crash happened. The three soldiers on board were members of Bravo Company, 12th Aviation Battalion, stationed at Fort Belvoir, approximately 14 miles from the airport.
No Survivors Confirmed
President Trump confirmed that all individuals on board both aircraft are presumed dead. The Potomac River has become the center of an extensive recovery operation, with dozens of bodies already pulled from the water.
Among the victims were several elite figure skaters from the U.S. and Russia, who were returning from a competition in Wichita.
Doug Zeghibe, CEO of The Skating Club of Boston, confirmed that 14 skaters from a national development camp were on board, including six from his club. The victims included athletes Jinna Han and Spencer Lane, their mothers Jin Han and Christine Lane, and coaches Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova.
Russian state media also reported that two world champion figure skaters were among the passengers.
By Thursday morning, officials had recovered at least 28 bodies—27 from the American Eagle flight and one from the Black Hawk helicopter.
Authorities described the recovery operation as one of the largest in D.C. history. Boats and ambulances transported human remains to a temporary morgue as the D.C. medical examiner worked through the tragic aftermath.
Investigation Underway
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the crash investigation, with assistance from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the U.S. Army.
Investigators will analyze flight data, cockpit voice recordings, and air traffic control communications. The NTSB confirmed that the aircraft’s black boxes have been recovered and sent to a lab for analysis.
Initial reports suggest weather conditions were clear and that both aircraft had been in communication with air traffic control before the collision. Experts have not yet identified any pilot errors as a cause of the crash.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that both the plane and helicopter were being operated by experienced pilots and that "standard communication" with air traffic control was in place at the time of the accident.
A preliminary FAA safety report revealed that only one controller was handling both helicopter and airplane traffic in the tower at the time of the collision. Normally, a separate controller is assigned to helicopters, though FAA regulations allow for a combined position.
As investigators piece together what led to the disaster, officials and the public await answers in one of the deadliest aviation accidents in recent U.S. history.