Emergency crews who waded through the frigid waters of the Potomac River through the night are now shifting to a recovery operation after an American Airlines plane carrying 64 people collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Washington DC’s Ronald Reagan National Airport.
The passenger flight, carrying 64 people from Wichita, Kansas, collided mid-air with a military helicopter carrying four around 9 p.m. on Wednesday.
No survivors are expected, D.C. Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly said at a Thursday morning press conference.
Emergency responders conducted their rescue mission through the night in what D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser described as “tough and heartbreaking conditions,” referring to ice-covered water and heavy winds. The operation has now shifted to a recovery mission.
So far, 28 bodies have been recovered — one from the helicopter and 27 from the American Airlines flight.
“We probably lost 60 Kansans tonight,” Kansas senator Roger Marshall told reporters at a briefing early Thursday morning. There were three people aboard the helicopter.
“It’s really hard when you lose probably over 60 Kansans simultaneously,” he said. “When one person dies it’s a tragedy, but when many, many, many people die, it’s an unbearable sorrow. It’s a heartbreak beyond major.”
A citywide prayer service is planned for Wichita Thursday.
Washington DC air crash latest
Latest as of 0515 ET 30 January
- An American Airlines regional jet collided mid-air with an Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River near Washington, D.C.’s Reagan National Airport.
- All 67 people on board both aircraft are feared dead.
- As of the latest update, at least 19 bodies have been recovered from the river.
- Reagan National Airport is closed until at least 11 a.m. Thursday.
- Investigators are examining the sequence of events leading up to the tragedy, including possible human error in communication between the Black Hawk crew and air traffic control.
- Follow latest updates
Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser declined to confirm whether any bodies had been recovered or anyone survived the crash. “We are in a rescue mode,” insisted Jack Potter, CEO of Washington Airports Authority.
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom expressed “deep sorrow” following the crash.
“This is a difficult day for all of us at American Airlines, and our efforts now are focused entirely on the needs of our passengers, crew members, partners, first responders, along with their families and loved ones,” he said in a video statement after the tragedy.
Isom said he’ll be heading to Washington, DC, to assess the accident and support employees.
Law enforcement and the Federal Aviation Administration confirmed news of the crash around 9.30 p.m. ET Wednesday night.
A law enforcement source told CNN that there were confirmed fatalities and no survivors had been pulled from the water as of late Wednesday. The source also said the plane was in pieces in the water and the helicopter was also in the water nearby.
Video from an observation camera at the nearby Kennedy Center shows two sets of lights consistent with separate aircraft appearing to conjoin in a fireball.
Law enforcement confirmed a collision between a passenger plane and a helicopter piloted by the U.S. Army (AP)
The FAA said In a statement that the crash occurred after a PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet from Wichita collided in midair with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter – colloquially known as a Black Hawk – while on approach to the runway at Reagan around 9 p.m. local time.
The Black Hawk was on a training flight at the time of the crash, Joint Task Force-National Capital Region media chief Heather Chairez told CNN.
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News’ Sean Hannity Wednesday night: “I have called over to my counterparts at the White House, and I can confirm that President Trump has been made aware of this situation.”
The president later released a statement, via Leavitt, which read: “I have been fully briefed on the terrible accident which just took place at Reagan National Airport. May God Bless their souls.”
The statement added: “Thank you for the incredible work being done by our first responders. I am monitoring the situation and will provide more details as they arise.”
Trump later on social media called the crash a “bad situation” that “looks like it should have been prevented.”
“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,” Trump wrote. “This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented. NOT GOOD!!!”
The Association of Flight Attendants said in a statement that two of its members were on board flight 5342.
“While we mobilize to support the families and crews directly affected by this incident, we are also sending strength to all first responders doing everything they can to bring survivors to safety,” the statement added. “Let us all stay focused on saving lives.”
The FAA and NTSB will investigate the crash, with the NTSB leading the probe.
Significant responses from fire, EMS, and police, were reported at the scene of the incident at the Potomac River (AP)
New Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement on social media that the department was “deploying every available U.S. Coast Guard resource for search and rescue efforts.”
She added: “We are actively monitoring the situation & stand ready to support local responders.” Noem expressed her concern and prayers for the victims and first responders.
An Associated Press source later confirmed that the helicopter was being piloted by the U.S. Army, with CNN reporting that the aircraft was carrying three members of the military but not VIPs.
The Independent has emailed the Army for confirmation and comment on the incident.
Significant responses with dozens of firefighters as well as EMS rescuers, and police, were reported at the scene of the incident in the Potomac River, with temperatures of 42 degrees Fahrenheit.
Multiple helicopters, including those from the U.S. Park Police and the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department and U.S. military, were also at the site. The FBI was also reportedly present.
In audio from the air traffic control tower around the time of the crash, obtained by AP, a controller is heard asking the helicopter, “PAT25 do you have the CRJ in sight,” in reference to the passenger aircraft.
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom said in a video statement that he was preparing to head to the scene. (AP)
“Tower did you see that?” another pilot is heard calling seconds after the apparent collision. The tower immediately began diverting other aircraft from Reagan.
Following the incident Vice President JD Vance urged people to “say a prayer” for all those involved. “We’re monitoring the situation, but for now let’s hope for the best,” he said.
Virginia Rep Don Beyer said the incident was “worrying” but urged civilians to let law enforcement do their jobs.
“I am following the response to a reported aviation incident at DCA, and am in touch with airport officials as we try to learn more about what happened and why,” he wrote on X.
“This is obviously very worrying, but I urge the community to please let first responders do their jobs and save lives.”
