A Deadly Collision Over D.C.: What We Know

A tragic midair collision near Washington, D.C., claimed the lives of everyone aboard a passenger jet and an Army helicopter Wednesday night. The accident, which occurred just three miles from the White House, sent both aircraft plunging into the Potomac River, turning what should have been a routine landing into one of the deadliest aviation disasters in recent U.S. history.

Quick Known Facts:

• An American Airlines jet carrying 60 passengers and four crew members collided midair with an Army Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport, crashing into the Potomac River.
• President Trump confirmed Thursday that there were no survivors.
• By 5:30 p.m. ET, at least 40 bodies had been recovered, according to law enforcement.
• The plane, American Eagle Flight 5342, was arriving from Wichita, Kansas, when the crash occurred.
• Several top U.S. and Russian figure skaters were among the passengers.
• The Black Hawk helicopter, based at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, was on a training flight.
• Reagan National Airport resumed operations Thursday morning.

What Happened?

The jet, coming from Wichita, Kansas, was minutes from landing at Reagan National Airport when air traffic controllers asked the pilots if they could switch to a shorter runway. They agreed and adjusted course. Meanwhile, a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, carrying three soldiers on a training flight, was flying in the area. Moments before the impact, an air traffic controller asked the helicopter crew if they could see the jet. Then, the controller told them to let the plane pass. There was no response. Seconds later, the two aircraft collided.

The jet’s signal disappeared just 2,400 feet from the runway. The wreckage was later found in the river, broken into three large pieces. The helicopter’s remains were also pulled from the water. By Thursday morning, rescue efforts had shifted to a recovery mission. Investigators are now working to pull flight data from both aircraft to understand exactly what went wrong.

Investigating What Went Wrong

Federal authorities are digging into the events leading up to the crash. One key detail: only one air traffic controller was handling both arriving and departing flights, as well as helicopter traffic. Normally, this job is shared by two people. The FAA says this setup isn’t unusual, but some are questioning whether it played a role in the disaster.

At a press conference, President Trump and other officials suggested the crash was avoidable. Trump blamed the helicopter pilots and criticized diversity initiatives in aviation—a comment that sparked backlash from lawmakers.

The Victims

This is the deadliest U.S. air disaster in the past couple decades. Among those killed were several members of the Skating Club of Boston, including teenage figure skaters and their mothers. Also on board were three students from Fairfax County, Virginia, as well as several parents and union workers. The Army has not yet released the names of the helicopter crew.

Airport and Safety Concerns

Reagan National Airport briefly shut down after the crash but reopened Thursday morning. Officials said the flight paths of both aircraft weren’t unusual, but the tragedy has reignited concerns over air traffic safety. There have been multiple near-misses at U.S. airports recently, including two at Reagan within the past year.

The Aircraft

The passenger plane was a Bombardier CRJ-701, a small regional jet built in 2004, capable of carrying up to 70 passengers. The helicopter was a UH-60 Black Hawk, an aircraft commonly used for military operations.

A History of Tragic Air Crashes

Major airline disasters in the U.S. are rare. The last one happened in 2009 near Buffalo, New York. This crash also brings back memories of the 1982 Air Florida disaster, where a plane went down in the Potomac River, killing 78 people.

Looking for Answers

As investigators work to piece together the final moments before the collision, grieving families and the public are left with unanswered questions. And what changes, if any, will be made to prevent a similar disaster in the future? The nation mourns the lives lost in this heartbreaking and shocking accident.