A passenger plane and a helicopter collided midair near Washington, DC’s Ronald Reagan National Airport on Wednesday evening, with no survivors expected, officials have confirmed.
The plane, carrying 64 people, crashed into the Potomac River after the collision. The helicopter, which had three people on board, was described as having a “fairly experienced crew” by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Among those on the plane were figure skaters from the U.S. and Russia, according to statements from U.S. Figure Skating and a Boston-based club.
Rescue teams searching the frigid waters have shifted their efforts to a recovery mission. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the collision occurred around 9:00 PM local time (02:00 GMT) when a PSA Airlines jet, operating as American Airlines Flight 5342, struck a U.S. Army helicopter while approaching the airport.
The passenger plane broke apart upon impact, sinking several feet into the river, while the helicopter flipped upside down on the water.
American Airlines confirmed that the aircraft, a Bombardier CRJ700, had departed from Wichita, Kansas, carrying 60 passengers and four crew members. Officials identified the helicopter as a Sikorsky H-60 belonging to B Company, 12th Aviation Battalion. It had taken off from Fort Belvoir, Virginia, with three soldiers on board for an annual proficiency flight that included a night evaluation using night-vision goggles.
Names and ranks of those involved are being withheld until families are notified.
Recordings of air traffic control communications indicate that a controller attempted to warn the helicopter crew about the incoming plane moments before impact. The helicopter pilot appeared to acknowledge the warning before the crash occurred.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated that the helicopter crew was aware of the nearby plane. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched an investigation to determine if the helicopter was flying within its designated airspace and altitude.
During a Thursday morning briefing, DC Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly stated that officials “do not believe there are any survivors.” So far, recovery teams have retrieved 27 bodies from the plane and one from the helicopter.
A law enforcement source told CBS that at least 30 bodies had been recovered.
U.S. Figure Skating confirmed that several members of the skating community, including athletes, coaches, and family members, were on board, returning from a development camp in Kansas. The Kremlin also verified that Russian citizens were among the passengers, following reports that former world champion figure skaters Yevgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were on the flight.
Search and recovery efforts are ongoing, with approximately 300 responders using rubber boats to navigate the challenging conditions of the river, which is affected by wind and ice.
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According to BBC, Eyewitnesses described the crash as shocking. Ari Schulman, who was driving along the George Washington Parkway, said the plane’s approach initially seemed normal before it suddenly veered sharply to the right. He described seeing “streams of sparks” illuminating the underside of the aircraft, resembling a “giant Roman candle.”
Another witness, Jimmy Mazeo, saw what he described as a “white flare” in the sky while having dinner near the airport. He noted that approaching planes appeared to be flying in irregular patterns but only realized the gravity of the situation when emergency responders arrived.
Authorities are actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the tragic midair collision, examining flight data, air traffic communications, and weather conditions to determine the exact cause of the accident.
