An American Airlines flight carrying more than 60 people collided with a US Army Black Hawk helicopter outside Washington DC on Wednesday night, sending both aircraft plummeting into the Potomac River. The crash, the causes of which are still being investigated by federal officials, marks the worst aviation disaster on US soil since the 9/11 attacks.

The deadly collision occurred at approximately 8:48 pm, while American Airlines flight 5342, en route to DC from Wichita, Kansas, was making its initial descent into Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The helicopter, flying out of Davidson Air Base at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, was reportedly conducting a routine training exercise when its flight pattern intersected with the incoming jet.

Source: AP reports; FlightAware; adsbexchange.com
Source: AP reports; FlightAware; adsbexchange.com

According to officials, the helicopter was transporting three military servicemembers, while the plane was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members. The identities of the military personnel involved have not been made public, but the Army confirmed that they were not senior officials or VIPs.

First responders have recovered the bodies of 27 passengers and one member of the helicopter crew, and it is now believed that no one survived the crash.

“We are switching from a rescue operation to a recovery operation,” DC Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly said on Thursday morning. “At this point I don’t believe we are going to find any survivors.”

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy further confirmed that the wreckage of both the helicopter and the airplane have been recovered, the latter having broken up into at least three pieces. A full investigation is being conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration.

“We wish we were gathering for different purposes today,” Duffy said at a press conference. “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 are safe.”

Duffy is reportedly working closely with newly confirmed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to “actively monitor” the situation. The FBI has confirmed to NBC News that “there is no indication of any criminality or terrorism in the crash.”

Flights in and out of Reagan National Airport have been canceled until at least Friday morning.

In a video posted to the company website, American Airlines CEO Robert Isom provided details of the crash, expressing his condolences to those who lost loved ones in the tragedy.

It is believed that among those who perished in the crash were multiple American figure skaters who, along with their coaches, were returning from a training camp in Wichita. Russian world champion skating duo Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov are also believed to have been on board.

“These athletes, coaches, and family members were returning home from the National Development Camp held in conjunction with the US Figure Skating Championships,” U.S. Figure Skating said in a statement. “We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts.”

President Donald Trump released a statement after being briefed on the crash, stating that “I have been fully briefed on the terrible accident which just took place at Reagan National Airport. May God Bless their souls.”

“Thank you for the incredible work being done by our first responders,” he continued. “I am monitoring the situation and will provide more details as they arise.”

On Thursday morning, Trump suggested in a Truth Social post that the crash might have been caused by human error and would have been preventable.

“The airplane was on a perfect and routine line of approach to the airport. The helicopter was going straight at the airplane for an extended period of time,” he said. “It is a CLEAR NIGHT, the lights on the plane were blazing, why didn’t the helicopter go up or down, or turn. 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!!!”

This is a developing story. Stay tuned for further updates. 

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Connor Walcott is the lead writer for Valuetainment.com. Follow Connor on X and look for him on VT’s “The Unusual Suspects.”

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