A midair collision between an Army helicopter and an American Airlines flight from Kansas killed all 67 people aboard, officials said Thursday, marking the deadliest U.S. aviation disaster in a generation.
Authorities recovered at least 28 bodies from the icy Potomac River after the helicopter apparently flew into the jet’s path late Wednesday as it was landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport. The American Airlines flight carried 60 passengers and four crew members, while three soldiers were aboard the military aircraft.
Investigation Underway
President Donald Trump confirmed there were no survivors, saying in a White House news conference, “We are now at the point where we are switching from a rescue operation to a recovery operation.”
Rescue teams found the plane upside-down in three sections in waist-deep water. Officials were searching as far south as the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, approximately three miles from the airport. The helicopter wreckage was also located nearby.
“On final approach into Reagan National, it collided with a military aircraft on an otherwise normal approach,” American Airlines CEO Robert Isom said.
Questions Over Military Aircraft’s Altitude
Army aviation officials said the Black Hawk helicopter’s pilots were highly experienced and familiar with Washington’s airspace.
“Both pilots had flown this specific route before, at night. This wasn’t something new to either one of them,” said Army Chief of Staff Jonathan Koziol.
The helicopter’s maximum allowed altitude at the time of the crash was 200 feet above ground, a factor Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said could have contributed to the collision. However, Koziol cautioned that investigators must analyze flight data before drawing conclusions.
Trump Blames Biden-Era FAA Policies
President Trump observed a moment of silence for the victims but quickly shifted to attacking diversity initiatives at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Without evidence, he claimed that air traffic controllers and military pilots were not properly trained due to FAA hiring practices emphasizing diversity.
The FAA declined to comment on Trump’s accusations, stating that the investigation is ongoing.
Airport Disruptions and Eyewitness Accounts
Flights at Reagan National Airport resumed by midday Thursday, but passengers faced widespread cancellations. Information boards were covered in red cancellation messages.
“I’ve been crying since yesterday,” said stranded passenger Aster Andemicael. “This is devastating.”
Largest U.S. Air Crash Since 2001
Wednesday’s collision is the deadliest U.S. plane crash since November 12, 2001, when an American Airlines flight crashed in New York’s Belle Harbor neighborhood, killing 260 people.
In 2009, a Bombardier DHC-8 crash near Buffalo, New York, claimed 50 lives, marking the last major fatal U.S. commercial airline accident.
Collision Occurred in Restricted Airspace
The crash happened in tightly controlled airspace just three miles from the White House and Capitol.
Flight-tracking data showed that American Airlines Flight 5342 was descending at 400 feet when it suddenly lost altitude over the Potomac. Air traffic controllers had asked the pilots to land on a shorter runway moments before impact.
Less than 30 seconds before the collision, an air traffic controller asked the helicopter pilot if he had the incoming jet in sight. The controller then instructed the helicopter to “pass behind the CRJ,” according to radio transmissions.
Seconds later, the aircraft collided, sending both into the river. Investigators are now reviewing the flight recorders to determine what went wrong.