Search and rescue groups work close to the Ronald Reagan Washington Nationwide Airport, within the aftermath of the collision of American Eagle flight 5342 and a Black Hawk helicopter that crashed into the Potomac River, in Arlington, Virginia, U.S., Jan. 30, 2025.
Evelyn Hockstein | Reuters
There have been no survivors after an American Airways regional jet with 64 individuals aboard collided with a Black Hawk army helicopter moments earlier than the airplane was set to land at Washington, D.C.’s Ronald Reagan Washington Nationwide Airport on Wednesday evening, officers mentioned. The accident was the worst air catastrophe within the U.S. since 2001.
A whole lot of first responders have switched to a restoration operation from rescue efforts, District of Columbia Hearth and Emergency Medical Companies Chief John Donnelly mentioned in a press convention Thursday morning. Donnelly mentioned at the least 28 our bodies have been recovered thus far: 27 from the jet and one from the helicopter.
Each plane plunged into the icy waters of the Potomac River. First responders together with divers labored in a single day to attempt to get well victims, battling uneven, chilly waters.
Sixty passengers and 4 crew members had been on board the American flight. Three individuals had been on board the army helicopter, an official mentioned.
American Eagle Flight 5342, a PSA Airways Bombardier CRJ700 regional jetliner, was on method into the airport’s Runway 33 when it collided with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter at round 9 p.m. ET, the FAA mentioned. The flight was arriving from Wichita, Kansas, and flying at an altitude of about 300 ft on the time of the collision, in keeping with FlightRadar24.
PSA Airways is an American Airways subsidiary and one among its regional carriers. American Eagle is how the airline manufacturers its regional flights.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, two days into the job, mentioned the American Airways jetliner was damaged into three sections within the Potomac.
The accident fingers President Donald Trump a disaster lower than two weeks into his new time period, because it ends the nation’s practically 16-year stretch with out a lethal industrial passenger crash.
Trump claimed at a White Home information convention Thursday that insurance policies selling variety, fairness and inclusion “might have been” in charge for the collision, the deadliest U.S. aircraft crash since November 2001. He didn’t present proof.
Pressed on whether or not he was getting forward of the investigation and on how he might join the collision to DEI, Trump mentioned, “As a result of I’ve frequent sense, OK?”
Folks look out in direction of the crash web site of the American Airways aircraft on the Potomac River because it approached the Reagan Nationwide Airport on January 30, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia.
Andrew Harnik | Getty Photos
The Nationwide Transportation Security Board is main the investigation into Wednesday’s accident. The probe can even embrace the Federal Aviation Administration, American Airways and different events.
American Airways CEO Robert Isom mentioned in a memo to employees that the NTSB could be the “sole supply of fact going ahead, and accuracy is of the utmost significance.”
At a briefing Thursday afternoon, NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy mentioned the company would go away no stone unturned in its investigation.
Investigators will take a look at every part from staffing ranges on the airport’s air visitors management facility to pilot coaching, upkeep, communications between air visitors controllers and the plane concerned within the crash, she mentioned.
NBC Information reported that two “black bins” with flight data had been recovered from the jet, citing a supply with information of the investigation.
Staffing at Reagan Nationwide Airport on Wednesday evening wasn’t at regular ranges for the time of day and the quantity of visitors, in keeping with a supply aware of a FAA preliminary incident report. The FAA did not instantly remark.
The particular person mentioned the tower on the airport usually has one controller who focuses on helicopter visitors, although FAA permits for that place to be mixed so one particular person might watch airplanes and helicopters. That was the case Wednesday evening, the supply mentioned.
“Everybody who flies in American skies expects that we fly safely, that if you depart an airport, you get to your vacation spot,” Duffy mentioned in a press convention Thursday. “That did not occur final evening, and I do know that President Trump, his administration, the FAA, the DOT, you’ll not relaxation till we’ve got solutions for the household and for the flying public.”
Regulation enforcement proceed their investigation into the American Airways aircraft that crashed into the Potomac River because it was making an attempt to land on the Reagan Nationwide Airport on Jan. 30, 2025 in Washington, DC.
Kayla Bartkowski | Getty Photos
Duffy mentioned he thought the accident was preventable.
The FAA doesn’t have a everlasting head, which might require Senate affirmation. Former Administrator Mike Whitaker stepped down on Jan. 20, when Trump took workplace.
On Thursday, Trump appointed Chris Rocheleau, a former senior FAA official, as appearing head of the FAA.
American CEO Isom traveled to Washington, D.C., in a single day.
“I wish to categorical my honest condolences for the accident that occurred final evening. We’re completely heartbroken for the relations,” Isom mentioned in a press convention. “Our focus proper now’s to assist all of these concerned and likewise the PSA airways group.”
He mentioned the American flight was at last method and “presently, we do not know why the army plane got here into the trail of the PSA plane.”
Emergency personnel work close to the positioning of the crash, with the U.S. Capitol within the background, after American Eagle flight 5342 collided with a Black Hawk helicopter whereas approaching Ronald Reagan Washington Nationwide Airport and crashed within the Potomac River, U.S. January 30, 2025.
Nathan Howard | Reuters
Isom mentioned the captain of the American Eagle flight had about six years with PSA and the primary officer had about two years. The aircraft was on a “normal” method, he added. “That is about all I can say.”
NBC Information reported that one of many troopers on the helicopter was an teacher pilot lending expertise to the crew, which was on an annual coaching mission.
The airline supplied contact data for individuals who “consider you will have family members on board Flight 5342.”
American and Russian determine skaters had been on board the flight, in keeping with the international locations’ official teams.
Reagan Washington Nationwide was closed Wednesday evening and reopened late Thursday morning. Officers mentioned airways would talk any schedule adjustments to passengers.
A flight data board reveals cancelled flights on the Reagan Nationwide Airport as rescue boats search the waters of the Potomac River after an American Airways aircraft crashed on method to Reagan Nationwide Airport on January 30, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia.
Kayla Bartkowski | Getty Photos Information | Getty Photos
The airport says its primary runway is the busiest within the nation.
The U.S. has had a protracted stretch with out deadly industrial passenger airline crashes. The final U.S. industrial passenger airline crash occurred in February 2009 when Continental Flight 3407 crashed right into a home because it was arriving in Buffalo, New York, killing all 49 individuals aboard and one particular person on the bottom.
The crash of that turboprop aircraft prompted federal rules requiring extra relaxation and coaching for pilots.
“We’re shocked and saddened by the tragic accident at DCA tonight,” mentioned the Air Line Pilots Affiliation, a pilot union. “Our ideas are with these affected by this tragedy and ALPA’s accident investigation group is responding to help the Nationwide Transportation Security Board of their investigation.”
— CNBC’s Kevin Breuninger and Phil LeBeau contributed to this report.
This story is creating. Please test again for updates.
Correction: A earlier headline on this story has been up to date to right a typographical error.
