67 dead after midair collision between passenger jet and military helicopter; Black boxes recovered

An American Airlines regional jet went down in the Potomac River near Reagan National Airport.

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Friday, January 31, 2025
American Airlines jet flight recorders recovered after DC plane crash
Josh Einiger has the latest developments on the crash investigation.

WASHINGTON -- Following the nation's first major commercial airline crash since 2009, dive teams are ceasing operations on the Potomac after recovering all of the bodies they are able to without moving the fuselage, according to two sources familiar with the operations.

On Wednesday night, a regional American Airlines passenger jet and a Black Hawk military helicopter collided over Washington, D.C.

The flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder -- known as black boxes -- from the American Airlines plane have been recovered and are en route to the National Transportation Safety Board lab, per a source with direct knowledge.

DC PLANE CRASH: A timeline of the deadly collision

About 40 bodies have been recovered so far, among them is the body of at least one of the soldiers from the Army Blackhawk helicopter, the sources told ABC News.

Additional bodies and human remains will need to be extracted from the wreckage once it is lifted to the surface of the river.

Crews are bracing for the possibility some of the victims will not be recovered because of the fireball that resulted from the collision, the sources said.

President Donald Trump said there were no survivors from the crash in remarks Thursday morning, calling the crash a "tragedy of terrible proportions."

"Our hearts are shattered," Trump said in a press briefing at the White House, after holding a moment of silence. "Our prayers are with you now and in the days to come."

President Donald Trump speaks in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Washington.
President Donald Trump speaks in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Washington.
AP Photo/Alex Brandon

"We are all searching for answers," Trump said, adding, "We do not know what led to this crash" but have "some pretty good ideas."

Emergency divers respond after a passenger aircraft collided with a helicopter, in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington Airport on January 30, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia.
Emergency divers respond after a passenger aircraft collided with a helicopter, in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington Airport on Jan. 30, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia.
(Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Runway operations at the airport resumed around 11 a.m. Thursday.

There were 60 passengers and four Charlotte-based crew members aboard the American Airlines flight 5342, which can hold up to 70 passengers. It departed from Wichita, Kansas, according to the FAA.

The water temperature in the Potomac River is approximately 36 degrees, and the air temperature at the time of the crash was 50 degrees with winds gusting 25 to 30 mph.

The FAA and NTSB will investigate the crash, the FAA said, with the NTSB leading the investigation.

Map of the area around Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and the layout of Runway 33, at the time a regional jet and Army Black Hawk helicopter collided, officials say.
Map of the area around Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and the layout of Runway 33, at the time a regional jet and Army Black Hawk helicopter collided, officials say.
ABC News, Flightradar24.com

On Wednesday at Reagan Airport, a supervisor made the decision to combine two controller positions into one position. This decision was made 40 minutes earlier than normal because the supervisor determined that the traffic was low enough to combine, according to a source with direct knowledge.

This position handles local arrivals into Reagan and helicopter traffic when it's combined. This happens routinely when aircraft volume goes down. Reagan is not understaffed, the source added.

The air traffic controllers' union said in a statement that it's working with all federal agencies and "stands with the highly trained, highly skilled" workforce that "keeps the United States as the gold standard for aviation safety."

DC PLANE CRASH VICTIMS: What we know about those on AA Flight 5342, Army Black Hawk

American Airlines CEO Robert Isom remains in Washington, D.C., on Thursday to support the families and help authorities.

"Out of respect for the families, we are not sharing the names of the two pilots and two flight attendants at this time, but our thoughts and prayers go out to their loved ones," Isom said.

The Black Hawk helicopter, which had three soldiers on board, carries a black box with a voice and flight data recorder.

"It was a fairly experienced crew that was doing a required annual night evaluation," Hegseth said. "They did have night vision goggles."

Jimmie Cummings, a spokesman for the Army's Combat Readiness Center at Fort Novosel, Alabama, said that just like all soldiers who must meet regular qualifications for their weapons, Army aviators have to meet annual qualifications, regardless of their flight experience. For aviators, that means flying under different conditions, which could mean flying in daytime or nighttime.

It was based at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, according to an Army official.

"We are working with local officials and will provide additional information once it becomes available," the official said.

The Federal Aviation Administration said preliminary information indicates that a PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet collided in midair with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter while on approach to the airport.

Officials said the American Airlines aircraft's fuselage has been located in three different sections of the river in waist-deep water. It was found "inverted."

3 soldiers on Black Hawk were very experienced: Official

The three Army Soldiers aboard the Black Hawk were very experienced, according to an Army official who briefed reporters in a phone briefing.

Jonathan Koziol, a retired Army chief warrant officer with more than 30 years of flight experience, told reporters that the flight was a nighttime qualification flight with an instructor pilot evaluating an experienced pilot on the flight routes that their unit routinely flies day and night around the Potomac River.

Jimmie Cummings, a spokesman for the Army's Combat Readiness Center at Fort Novosel, Alabama, said that just like all soldiers who must meet regular qualifications for their weapons, Army aviators have to meet annual qualifications, regardless of their flight experience. For aviators, that means flying under different conditions, which could mean flying in daytime or nighttime.

Koziol confirmed that the instructor pilot had more than 1,000 flight hours and that the pilot being evaluated had more than 500 hours. The evaluated pilot was in command of the flight, but if an emergency was to occur the instructor would have taken control of the helicopter.

Koziol said the maximum altitude for this route is 200 feet; the helicopter appeared to be flying at about 350 feet, according to sources.

Part of the unit's responsibility is to fly VIPs around the D.C. area, and that includes getting them out of the area if "something really bad happens," he said, "so they do need to be able to understand the environment, the air traffic, the routes, to ensure the safe travel of our senior leaders throughout our government."

Koziol described the helicopter flight corridor above the Potomac as "a relatively easy corridor to fly, because you're flying down the center of the river, and it's very easily identifiable, especially at night" because there aren't a lot of lights.

The helicopter had a black box with a voice and flight data recorder.

'Absolutely' preventable, transportation secretary says

President Donald Trump released a statement on social media about the crash seeming to question the actions of the helicopter pilots and Air Traffic Control.

"It is a CLEAR NIGHT, the lights on the plane were blazing, why didn't the helicopter go up or down, or turn," Trump posted on his platform Truth Social. "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!!!"

Asked about Trump's comments, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told reporters Thursday, "To back up with the president said, what I've seen so far -- do I think this was preventable? Absolutely."

An American Airlines regional jet crashed into the Potomac River near Reagan Airport in DC after colliding with a military helicopter, officials said.

Duffy said that "everything was standard in the lead up to the crash."

"It is not standard to have aircraft collide. Want to be clear on that, but prior to the collision, the flight paths that were being flown from the military and from American that was not unusual for what happens in the D.C. airspace," Duffy added.

Duffy also said that there was no breakdown of communication.

Officials did not give any information on the flight history and experience of pilots on both aircraft, but did say that the captain had over six years of experience with the airline and the first officer had almost two years.

Figure skaters, coaches among passengers aboard jet that collided with helicopter over DC

Figure skaters and coaches returning from the recent U.S. national championships were aboard the American Airlines flight, officials said.

Fourteen figure skaters were among those lost in the crash, according to Doug Zeghibe, the CEO and executive director for the Skating Club of Boston.

Zeghibe said among the group of skaters, six were from the Skating Club of Boston, along with two coaches, two teenage athletes and athletes' moms. Zeghibe identified the two coaches as Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov. The two were 1994 World Pair Champions who joined the club in 2017, Zeghibe said.

"Six is a horrific number for us but we're fortunate and grateful it wasn't more than six," Zeghibe said. "This will have long reaching impacts for our skating community."

Zeghibe emphasized how tight-knit the skating community is and that "everyone is like family."

"We are devastated and completely at a loss for words," Zeghibe said.

NTSB leading investigation of mid-air collision: Official

The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation of the deadly mid-air collision of American Airlines Flight 5342 and an Army Blackhawk helicopter, according to a statement from Joint Task Force-National Capital Region.

Ron McLendon II, a spokesperson for the Joint Task Force-National Capital Region, said the U.S. Army and the Federal Aviation Administration will assist with the investigation.

"The NTSB will lead the investigation. We are working with local officials and will provide any additional information once it becomes available," McLendon said.

Boats work the scene on the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, in Arlington, Va.
Boats work the scene on the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, in Arlington, Va.
AP Photo/Julio Cortez

Officials respond to crash

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said an immediate investigation has been launched, calling the incident "Absolutely tragic."

Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy posted on X that he is at FAA headquarters and "closely monitoring the situation." The Department of Homeland Security said DHS Secretary Kristi Noem has also been briefed on the crash and is monitoring the situation.

Vice President JD Vance posted on X, "Please say a prayer for everyone involved in the mid-air collision near Reagan airport this evening. We're monitoring the situation, but for now let's hope for the best."

Former President Joe Biden said he and the former first lady were "praying for for the families of the victims who tragically lost their lives in the plane and helicopter crash near DCA."

Former President Barack Obama said in a statement that the Obama's "hearts break for the families who lost loved ones."

House Speaker Mike Johnson posted to X saying, "I'm deeply saddened to learn about the horrific tragedy at Reagan National Airport. Please join me in praying for everyone involved as well as our first responders."

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin said on X that "extensive resources are fully supporting the search and rescue efforts" following the crash.

"First responders from across Northern Virginia, DC and Maryland mobilized quickly," he said. "I ask everyone to pray for the passengers, crews, their families, and brave first responders.

In somber remarks at a news conference early Thursday morning, Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall suggested he feared the passengers and crew aboard a regional American Airlines jet and a Black Hawk helicopter that collided were lost.

"When one person dies, it's a tragedy," Marshall said. "But when many, many, many people die, it's an unbearable sorrow ... It's really hard when you lose, you know, probably over 60 Kansans, simultaneously."

Speaking of the pilots, flight attendants and military personnel, Marshall added, "All those lives are so valuable, and it is such a tragedy that we lost them."

Fellow Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran said he knows the flight pattern of Flight 5342 well.

"I've flown it many times myself," Moran said, adding that he lobbied American Airlines to add direct, nonstop flight service from Wichita to Reagan National.

Direct flights from Wichita National Airport to DCA launched a year ago, said Jesse Romo, Wichita's director of airports.

American Airlines CEO Robert Isom released a video statement about the crash of Flight 5342 over the Potomac River on Wednesday night as it approached Reagan National Airport.

"First and most importantly I'd like to express our deep sorrow about these events," Isom said.

He said the airline is fully cooperating with the National Transportation Safety Board and working with federal, state and local authorities on the response to the crash.

"We want to learn everything we can about today's events," Isom said. "That work will take time."

The Wichita National Airport has activated an incident and support team to help within the terminal to provide families with information, according to Romo.

Romo called the crash "devastating" during a press briefing tonight and said he believes there are family members of those aboard the American Airlines flight already at the airport seeking any updates.

If you believe you may have loved ones on board Flight 5342, call American Airlines toll-free at 800-679-8215. Those calling from outside the U.S. can visit news.aa.com for additional phone numbers. Family members in Canada, Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands can call 800-679-8215 directly.

DC plane crash marks first major commercial crash in US since 2009

The crash involving a regional aircraft and a Black Hawk helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday marks the first major commercial crash in the United States since 2009.

The last crash took place on Feb. 12, 2009, when Colgan Air Flight 3407 crashed during landing near Buffalo Niagara International Airport, killing all 49 people onboard.

There have been other deadly incidents in the U.S., such as the Asiana runway crash at San Francisco International Airport in 2013. Three people died when Flight 214 came in to the airport too low and too slow, hit a seawall and sheared the tail section and left engine off the plane as it spun down the runway.

Asiana Airlines flight from Seoul, South Korea, crashed while landing at San Francisco International Airport on Saturday.
Asiana Airlines flight from Seoul, South Korea, crashed while landing at San Francisco International Airport on Saturday.
Photo submitted via uReport by Hasani Sinclair

One of the three who was killed was run over by an emergency vehicle responding to the crash.

Nearly 200 people were also injured in that crash, which was blamed on the Asiana Airlines pilots mismanaging the autopilot system, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.

The last fatality on a plane in the U.S. came in 2018 when a woman was partially sucked out of a Southwest Airlines window.

Passenger Jennifer Riordan died in that incident, when Flight 1380 suffered engine failure and had to make an emergency landing in Philadelphia.

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