Last night, around 9 p.m. EST, tragedy struck when a US Army Black Hawk helicopter flew into the path of an American Airlines flight carrying 60 passengers over the Potomac River in Washington, D.C.
This event has already been declared the deadliest aviation disaster in the United States since 2001. The rescue mission has now become a recovery mission, with an expected death toll of 67. The 60 passengers and four crew members, along with the three on the helicopter, are all presumed dead.
The plane was only seconds away from landing at Reagan National Airport when the helicopter crossed into its path, causing an explosive collision over the river. Both aircraft were on their expected paths, and officials are questioning how this occurred despite strict regulations and monitoring of the airspace.
American Airlines Flight 5342, which was flying from Wichita, Kansas, was carrying many figure skaters and families returning from a competition. Among the victims are Russian world champion skaters Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova.
Three soldiers from the Army’s 12th Aviation Battalion operated the Black Hawk helicopter. According to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegeseth, their flight was an annual proficiency training flight, and they were “fairly experienced.”
The emergency response to the crash was almost immediate, with around 300 first responders. Conditions for the divers sent to search for survivors were dangerous, as low water temperatures posed a risk of hypothermia.
President Trump said this morning in a briefing that, although the cause of the incident is still unknown, the White House has “strong opinions and ideas” on what may have occurred. He began the briefing with a moment of silence for the victims and their families.
As of 10 a.m. this morning, 28 bodies had been recovered. The search continues, but no survivors are expected to be found.
Sources:
https://www.npr.org/2025/01/29/g-s1-45449/plane-helicopter-crash-d-c-airport-potomac
