Midair collision near Washington D.C. claims 67 lives in deadliest U.S. air disaster in decades

ARLINGTON, Va. A midair collision between a U.S. Army helicopter and a commercial jetliner late Wednesday resulted in the deaths of all 67 people aboard both aircraft, marking the deadliest aviation disaster in the United States in nearly 25 years.

The crash occurred over the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan National Airport as the American Airlines regional jet, carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, was making its final approach. Officials said the Black Hawk helicopter, with three soldiers on board, appeared to have flown into the jetliner’s path.

Emergency crews recovered at least 28 bodies from the frigid waters as search efforts continued. The wreckage of the jet was found in three sections, partially submerged in waist-deep water, while the helicopter debris was also located nearby.

Concerns Over Air Traffic Control Procedures

A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) report, obtained by the Associated Press, indicated that a single air traffic controller was handling both helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft traffic at the time of the collision. Normally, these roles are divided, but the supervisor had combined them earlier in the evening.

“The position configuration was not normal for the time of day and volume of traffic,” the report stated. However, a source familiar with FAA procedures, speaking anonymously, insisted that staffing levels in the tower were standard for that hour.

Federal officials have launched an investigation but cautioned that determining the exact cause of the collision could take months.

President Trump Responds

At a White House news conference on Thursday, President Donald Trump confirmed that no one had survived the disaster. “We are now at the point where we are switching from a rescue operation to a recovery operation,” said John Donnelly, the fire chief in Washington, D.C.

Trump observed a moment of silence for the victims, calling it an “hour of anguish” for the nation. However, he quickly shifted focus to political blame, accusing the previous Biden administration of weakening aviation safety standards. Without providing evidence, he criticized air traffic controllers and the military pilots involved, claiming that FAA hiring policies were prioritizing diversity over competence.

Investigation and Recovery Efforts

Jennifer Homendy, chair of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), told reporters that investigators were working to retrieve the flight data recorders, which remained underwater.

Authorities stated that weather conditions were clear at the time of the crash. Jonathan Koziol, Chief of Staff for Army Aviation, defended the experience of the Black Hawk crew, stating, “Both pilots had flown this specific route before, at night. This wasn’t something new to either one of them.”

A crucial factor in the crash could be the helicopter’s altitude. According to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the Black Hawk had a maximum allowed altitude of 200 feet at the time of the accident. It remains unclear whether it had exceeded that limit.

Tragedy Strikes Wichita Community

Among the passengers on the ill-fated flight were a group of figure skaters, their coaches, and family members returning from a training camp following the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas.

Wichita, a city deeply tied to the aviation industry, was left devastated by the tragedy. Hundreds gathered in the city council chambers for a prayer vigil led by Mayor Lily Wu and religious leaders. Carla Lee, a retired nursing professor from Wichita State University, attended with a bouquet of red roses. “It hits you, how short life can be,” she said, noting that she was scheduled to take the same flight to Washington next week.

Crash Occurred in Highly Controlled Airspace

FAA data revealed that the crash took place just over three miles from the White House and U.S. Capitol, within one of the most tightly monitored airspaces in the country. Flight 5342 was descending at approximately 400 feet (122 meters) at 140 mph (225 kph) when it suddenly lost altitude over the Potomac River.

Flight-tracking records showed that the aircraft had been cleared to land on Runway 33 at Reagan National, requiring the pilots to adjust their approach. Moments before the crash, an air traffic controller radioed the helicopter to confirm whether it had visual contact with the incoming plane.

“PAT 25, pass behind the CRJ,” the controller instructed. Seconds later, the two aircraft collided in midair.

Deadliest Air Disaster in the U.S. Since 2001

This catastrophe marks the deadliest aviation accident in the U.S. since November 12, 2001, when American Airlines Flight 587 crashed in Belle Harbor, New York, killing all 260 people aboard. The last major fatal U.S. commercial airline accident occurred in 2009 near Buffalo, New York, claiming 50 lives.

Despite such tragedies, aviation experts emphasize that air travel remains statistically the safest mode of transportation. According to the National Safety Council, the likelihood of dying in a car crash is 1 in 93, while deaths from air accidents are so rare that they defy meaningful statistical calculations.

Flights Resume, Families Mourn

Operations at Reagan National Airport resumed midday Thursday, though the atmosphere remained somber. Passengers waiting for rescheduled flights quietly observed the recovery efforts visible from the terminal windows.

Aster Andemicael, who had been at the airport since Wednesday night with her elderly father, struggled to contain her grief. “I’ve been crying since yesterday,” she said. “This is devastating.”

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who had been sworn in just days prior, stated that investigators had “early indicators” about the cause of the crash but declined to provide details.

As federal agencies piece together the final moments leading up to the disaster, the nation mourns one of the deadliest aviation tragedies in its history.