Potomac Crash
Live Blog EndedJan 30, 2025

‘No survivors' after plane, helicopter crash into Potomac River

An aircraft with 64 people on board collided with a military helicopter with three passengers not far from DCA

Live
 

This blog has ended. See the latest updates on Thursday's live blog.

What to Know

  • An American Airlines flight and an Army helicopter collided and crashed Wednesday night into the Potomac River near Reagan National Airport.
  • All 64 people on the passenger plane that was arriving from Wichita, Kansas, are feared to be dead, in addition to the three aboard the helicopter. Twenty-eight bodies have been recovered, officials said at a news conference Thursday morning.
  • “At this point, we don’t believe there are survivors from this accident," D.C. Fire and EMS Chief John A. Donnelly said Thursday morning.
  • A massive emergency response included boats and dive teams from police and fire departments across the area.
  • What caused the collision? It's unclear. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy said there was no communication breakdown and both aircraft involved in the crash were in standard flight patterns.
  • Reagan National Airport reopened at 11 a.m. ET Thursday. "It's safe," the president and CEO of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority said.

An American Airlines flight and a military helicopter collided and crashed into the Potomac River near Reagan National Airport Wednesday evening. Officials believe everyone on both aircraft died. A recovery operation is underway.

Follow along with live updates below.

JAN 3012:37 PM EST

What we know about the victims of the plane, helicopter crash outside DC

What we know about the victims of the plane, helicopter crash outside DC

A talented teen figure skater and his parents were among the victims of the Potomac crash. A relative spoke with News4 about the family.

Sixty-seven people died after an American Airlines flight and an Army Black Hawk helicopter collided near Reagan National Airport on Wednesday night.

A search-and-rescue operation involving more than 300 first responders continued as a recovery operation Sunday.

Here's what we know about the Flight 5342 victims and Army personnel so far.

This will be updated as more information becomes available.

Read Full Article

JAN 303:51 PM EST

Black boxes not found yet, NTSB says

The NTSB says it hasn't found flight data recorders, also known as black boxes, from either the passenger airplane or the military helicopter involved in the crash.

J. Todd Inman, a board member, said the agency is "comfortable and confident" it will recover the data recorders.

"We will probably have more than one black box, so to speak. It's our understanding that the Sikorsky helicopter is equipped with some form of recording device, and those will be read either by the DOD or by us. We have a good starting relationship with them, and we've already made agreements in order to be able to do that. So I feel comfortable in what we're going to be doing," Inman said.

JAN 303:32 PM EST

DCA tower staffing was ‘not normal' during crash, preliminary FAA report finds

A preliminary FAA internal report on the collision found staffing at the air traffic control tower at Reagan Washington National Airport was "not normal" for the amount of air traffic and for the time of day, a source with knowledge of the situation told NBC News.

The tower typically has a controller who focuses specifically on helicopter traffic. But at the time of the crash last night, the source said, one controller was overseeing both airplane and helicopter activity.

FAA guidelines do allow for this position to be combined, permitting one controller to control both airplanes and helicopters.

JAN 303:10 PM EST

DCA has the busiest runways in America

Washington Reagan National Airport has the busiest runways in the U.S., but the airport itself has not expanded. News4 investigative reporter Tracee Wilkins explains the busy space.

DCA is the busiest runway in America
DCA is the busiest runway in America and the airport itself has not expanded. News4's Tracee Wilkins explains the busy space.

JAN 302:42 PM EST

What's the ‘helicopter highway' on the Potomac?

Storm Team4’s Amelia Draper explains the "helicopter highway" on the river and what's believed to be its role in the crash.

What's the ‘helicopter highway' on the Potomac?
Storm Team4's Amelia Draper explains the 'helicopter highway' on the Potomac River and the part in place in the plane crash.
JAN 302:29 PM EST

‘They're gone': Northern Virginia skaters, coach were on plane

Skating club leaders in the region confirmed to News4 that multiple young skaters from Northern Virginia were on the plane that crashed near Reagan National Airport. They said at least some of the skaters had family members with them on the flight.

"It's tough, you know. They're gone. That's what kills me is these kids because I work with kids all day. Just one of those things where you don't want to see anyone go through this," Ross Lansel, a coach at Skate Quest in Reston, told News4.

Lansel is also mourning his ex-wife Inna Volyanskaya, who was killed in the plane crash. She was a skating coach at Ashburn Ice House.

A former pair skater for the Soviet Union, Volyanskaya performed all over the world and played Ariel in Disney on Ice's "The Little Mermaid" before becoming a coach in 2002, according to Lansel and her online coaching bio.

"She was one of the best skaters I've ever seen, honestly. She was one of the best pair girls to skate," Lansel said.

JAN 302:07 PM EST

Bodies of 3 Army soldiers recovered

The bodies of all three soldiers who were on board the Army helicopter have been recovered, U.S. officials said.

The victims’ remains will be at Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. The office coordinates the dignified transfer of fallen service members. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details not yet announced. No identities of the crew have been released.

JAN 301:45 PM EST

Crew flying the Army Blackhawk helicopter was ‘very experienced'

And they were not new to the unit or the congested flying that occurs daily around Washington, D.C., said Jonathan Koziol, chief of staff for Army aviation.

“Both pilots had flown this specific route before, at night. This wasn’t something new to either one of them,” Koziol said. “Even the crew chief in the back has been in the unit for a very long time, very familiar with the area, very familiar with the routing structure.”

The maximum altitude where the Blackhawk was at the time of the crash — along a published corridor called Route 4 — was 200 feet above ground, Koziol said. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said at the White House on Thursday that elevation seemed to be a factor in the crash.

Koziol said investigators need to analyze the flight data before making any conclusions as to altitude.

JAN 301:41 PM EST

Multiple former students at Loudoun County Public Schools are among the victims

It was announced by the school district’s superintendent.

Mental health professionals will be available at schools, Superintendent Aaron Spence said in a letter to families and staff.

“This unimaginable loss has deeply affected our community, and with great sorrow, we have learned that multiple victims were former LCPS students,” Spence said.

JAN 301:33 PM EST

4 DC-area members of plumbers and pipefitters union among crash victims, union says

Four members of a local union for plumbers and pipefitters are among the victims of the plane crash into the Potomac River, the union said.

The four people believed to have died were members of the UA Steamfitters Local 602, the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry just said in a statement.

“As more information continues to come in, we are heartbroken to confirm that four members of UA Steamfitters Local 602 were among the victims of the American Airlines Flight 5342 crash yesterday," they said. "[...] Our focus now is on providing support and care to the families of our Brothers as we continue to gather more information in the coming days."

Local 602 represents people who work in heating, air conditioning, refrigeration and process piping in the D.C. area, their website says. Addresses in Capitol Heights and Landover are listed. Go here for our developing story on what we know so far about all victims.

4 DC-area members of plumbers and pipefitters union among crash victims, union says
Four members of a local union for plumbers and pipefitters are among the victims of the plane crash into the Potomac River, the union said.
JAN 301:04 PM EST

‘Despicable': Buttigieg responds to Trump's attacks at news briefing

Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg responded to President Trump's allegations that Buttigieg mismanaged the Department of Transportation, calling the president's comments "despicable."

During a White House news briefing this morning on the D.C. plane crash, Trump called Buttigieg a "disaster," saying, "Do you know how badly everything’s run since he’s run the Department of Transportation?"

Buttigieg called his remarks "despicable," adding that "as families grieve, Trump should be leading, not lying."

"We put safety first, drove down close calls, grew Air Traffic Control, and had zero commercial airline crash fatalities out of millions of flights on our watch," Buttigieg said in a post on X.

"President Trump now oversees the military and the FAA," he said, adding that it's "time for the President to show actual leadership and explain what he will do to prevent this from happening again."

JAN 301:03 PM EST

How wind conditions could have affected the plane before the crash

Wind conditions Wednesday night could have affected how American Airlines flight 5342 planned to land on Runway 33 at Reagan National Airport.

Here's how the wind might have affected the Potomac River aircraft crash
Storm Team4 Meteorologist Chuck Bell explains how the wind and cold weather could affect recovery efforts for the crash involving the American Airlines plane and military helicopter.
JAN 3012:26 PM EST

Ashburn Ice House skating community grieving

Northern Virginia's skating community is reeling after the tragic plane crash. One of the victims believed to have died in the crash was Inna Volyanskaya, a coach at Ashburn Ice House.

"It's been a long night for us, myself and all the staff here in the building. The skating community's a small, tight-knit community whether it's our rink, neighboring rinks, the skating community is very small and certainly here within this building the skating community's a tight community and this is affecting a lot of the individuals in that community," Ashburn Ice House General Manager Rob Lorenzen told News4.

Ashburn Ice House community grieving after plane crash near DCA
Inna Volyanskaya, an ice skating coach in Ashburn, was on the flight that crashed into the Potomac River. News4's Drew Wilder spoke with the general manager of Ashburn Ice House about the tragedy.

It's unconfirmed at this time who else was on the plane who had connections to the D.C. region. However, leaders in the skating community told News4 there were young skaters from Northern Virginia on the flight.

"Anyone that was skating in the national development program this past week in Wichita are exemplary skaters. They've been working hard at their skill, hard at their craft and they're the best of the best," Lorenzen said.

JAN 3012:14 PM EST

Vance, Duffy and Hegseth say plane crash was ‘unacceptable,' repeat Trump's DEI attacks

Vice President J.D. Vance, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth added to Trump's criticisms of DEI, saying "we can only have the best and the brightest."

"We want to hire the best people, because we want the best people at air traffic control, and we want to make sure we have enough people at air traffic control who are actually competent to do the job," Vance said.

"If you go back to just some of the headlines over the past 10 years, you have many hundreds of people suing the government because they would like to be air traffic controllers, but they were turned away because of the color of their skin," the vice president continued, without providing evidence of the claim.

Hegseth said that federal agencies should only "have the best and brightest in every position possible."

"As you said in your inaugural, it is colorblind and merit based, the best leaders possible, whether it’s flying Black Hawks, flying airplanes, leading platoons or in government, the era of DEI is gone at the Defense Department, and we need the best and brightest, whether it’s in our air traffic control or whether it’s in our generals, or whether it’s throughout government," Hegseth said.

JAN 3012:03 PM EST

Without evidence, president points finger at FAA diversity efforts

The president asserted his opinion at the White House press briefing even though the crash has yet to be fully investigated and there has been no determination as to whether the FAA did anything wrong.

“The FAA is actively recruiting workers who suffer severe intellectual disabilities, psychiatric problems, and other mental and physical conditions under a diversity and inclusion hiring initiative spelled out on the agency’s website,” said Trump, noting that the program allowed for the hiring of people with hearing and vision issues as well as paralysis, epilepsy and “dwarfism.”

Trump said air traffic controllers needed to be geniuses.

“They have to be talented, naturally talented geniuses,” he said. “You can’t have regular people doing their job.”

He then said there’s no evidence yet that the collision could be blamed on diversity hires.

JAN 3011:59 AM EST

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the Army is investigating whether the Blackhawk's altitude played a role

On board the Blackhawk were a young captain, a staff sergeant and a chief warrant officer.

JAN 3011:57 AM EST

Trump said he's immediately appointing an acting commissioner to Federal Aviation Administration

The president said he was naming Chris Rocheleau, a 22-year FAA veteran, to the post.

A full-time commissioner will require Senate confirmation.

JAN 3011:51 AM EST

Trump attacks Obama, Biden and DEI efforts while addressing DC plane crash

President Donald Trump targeted former presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in his remarks on the deadly D.C. plane crash, saying Biden's "policy was horrible."

"We must have only the highest standards for those who work in our aviation system. I changed the Obama standards from very mediocre at best to extraordinary," Trump said, without providing evidence or citing specific policy.

"And then when I left office and Biden took over, he changed them back to lower than ever before. I put safety first, Obama, Biden and the Democrats put policy first, and they put politics at a level that nobody's ever seen because this was the lowest level," he continued, adding, "their policy was horrible, and their politics was even worse."

Trump went on to blame a "FAA diversity push" that "includes focus on hiring people with severe intellectual and psychiatric disabilities that is amazing."

The president then turned to Buttigieg, saying, "Do you know how badly everything's run since he's run the Department of Transportation?"

JAN 3011:46 AM EST

Trump on DC plane collision: ‘We'll ensure that nothing like this ever happens again'

Trump on DC plane collision: ‘We're all searching for answers'
President Donald Trump gave a press briefing Thursday on the collision that took place between a military helicopter and a passenger jet outside of Reagan National Airport on Wednesday night.

President Trump said the U.S. military and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash.

“We’ll find out how this disaster occurred and will ensure that nothing like this ever happens again,” he said.

JAN 3011:39 AM EST

Ice-breaking DC fire boat out of service at time of DCA plane crash

Some public safety personnel are furious a D.C. Fire and EMS fire boat capable of breaking ice was out of service when a plane and helicopter crashed into each other in midair late Wednesday and plunged into the freezing Potomac River, they tell News4.

The John Glenn fire boat has been docked in a Baltimore maintenance yard since 2022 for repairs, as News4 reported after a pickup truck with two people inside plunged into the Potomac off the Arlington Memorial Bridge just weeks ago.

As crews searched the river for victims of the plane and helicopter crash, the fire boat could have helped break ice, officials said. It also could have served as a platform for divers plunging into the river, they said.

Ice-breaking DC fire boat out of service at time of DCA plane crash
Some public safety personnel are furious a D.C. Fire and EMS fire boat capable of breaking ice was out of service when a plane and helicopter crashed in midair and plunged into the freezing Potomac River, they told News4’s Paul Wagner.
JAN 3011:29 AM EST

‘Our hearts are shattered': President Trump speaks on deadly plane crash

President Donald Trump began his remarks with a moment of silence.

“This was a dark and excruciating night in our nation’s capital and in our nation’s history, and a tragedy of terrible proportions,” Trump said.

“As one nation, we grieve every precious soul,” he said after praising first responders for doing a “phenomenal job.”

JAN 3011:22 AM EST

DCA runways reopen

Reagan National Airport's runways reopened at 11 a.m., according to the FAA. The airport reported a Southwest Airlines flight departed one minute later.

Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority president Jack Potter said Reagan National Airport is safe.

All flights were stopped after the fatal crash.

“It’s safe,” Potter said. “We’ve worked with all the federal agencies, FAA, and, you know, it’s been determined that we’ve opened that airport safely.”

DCA was filled with reporters and D.C. officials early Thursday morning rather than travelers as many flights were canceled or rescheduled.

JAN 3011:09 AM EST

Hegseth says Army helicopter crew was ‘fairly experienced,' had night vision goggles

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the helicopter crew involved in the crash was "fairly experienced" and was doing an "annual proficiency training flight" at the time of the collision.

Hegseth said the three crewmembers were from the Bravo Company 12th Aviation Battalion at Fort Belvoir, an army base in Virginia that's about 14 miles away from the airport.

Sec. of Defense Hegseth provides update on air collision outside DCA
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth provides an update on the mid-air collision between a military helicopter and a passenger jet near Reagan Washington National Airport Wednesday night.

"It was a fairly experienced crew that was doing a required annual night evaluation. They did have night vision goggles," Hegseth said in a post on X. He did not identify the crew members, because their families are still being notified.

Hegseth said the collision is already being reviewed by "an investigative team from our aviation safety center."

JAN 3011:03 AM EST

At Reagan National Airport after the collision

Inside the airport Thursday morning, the mood was somber as stranded passengers milled around waiting for flights to resume.

They sidestepped camera crews and stared out the terminal’s windows at the Potomac River, where recovery efforts were barely visible in the distance. Officials had announced earlier that they didn’t expect to find any survivors.

Employees embrace at the American Airlines counter at Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) after a passenger jet collided with a helicopter while landing in Arlington, Virginia, US, on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. The collision between an American Airlines Group Inc. regional jet and a military helicopter near Ronald Reagan airport in Washington left no survivors on board the two aircraft, authorities said, making it one of the most deadly US air disasters in decades and an early test for President Donald Trump's administration in his second week in office. Photographer: Tierney L. Cross/Bloomberg via Getty Images

“This is an inconvenience for us, but that ain’t nothing compared to what those families are going through,” said Chris Adams, whose flight back home to Texas was delayed several hours. “Life’s just too short.”

Aster Andemicael had been at the airport since Wednesday evening with her elderly father, who was flying to Indiana to visit family. She said she spent much of the long night thinking about the victims and their families.

JAN 3010:59 AM EST

Coast Guard boat crews are helping search the icy waters of the Potomac

The agency is also directing other boat traffic away from the area strewn with wreckage after the collision.

The Coast Guard says crews will also help deal with any pollution, remove wreckage when possible and re-open the waterway once it’s safe.

Authorities have said the work to recover the remains of the victims could be lengthy.

JAN 3010:56 AM EST

‘Be respectful': Residents of military base are told to steer clear of Potomac

Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling issued updates to its residents impacted by the American Airlines and military helicopter crash.

In a Facebook post, the military installation told residents to "stay away from any activity, including along the waterfront and the Slip Inn."

The base called the area an "active recovery site" and reminded people to "be respectful."

Residents were asked not to pick up any items or take photos of sensitive operations. However, if any aircraft parts, personal effects, or other items are found, residents should call the Base Defense Operations Center at 202-767-5000/5001.

JAN 3010:35 AM EST

‘They're gone': Virginia skating coach discusses tragic loss in skating community

‘They're gone': Virginia skating coach discusses tragic loss in skating community
Ross Lansel, skate coach at Skate Quest in Reston, Virginia, lost his ex-wife in the plane crash outside DCA on Wednesday night. He speaks about the tragic losses across the skating community.

U.S. Figure Skating said in a statement that several skaters, coaches and their family members were on the commercial flight that crashed Wednesday night in Washington.

The group was traveling back after attending a development camp that followed the championships on Sunday in Wichita, Kansas.

It's not the first time that the U.S. figure skating community has been rocked by an air tragedy.

The 18-member U.S. team that was set to compete in the 1961 world championships at Prague died when Sabena Flight 548 crashed on Feb. 15, 1961, in Berg-Kampenhout, about 45 minutes outside of Brussels.

JAN 3010:29 AM EST

Virginia senator says families of plane collision victims are still being notified

At a confirmation hearing for one of Trump’s Cabinet nominees, Virginia Sen. Mark Warner said he spent most of Wednesday night at the Reagan National Airport as first responders were searching for survivors.

He warned that families are still being notified about the status of their loved ones and that should be the focus right now.

JAN 3010:24 AM EST

‘We have lost family': Skating club CEO details six lost on passenger plane to DC

‘We have lost family': Skating club CEO details six lost on passenger plane to DC
Doug Zeghibe, owner of The Skating Club of Boston, said that the crash would have “long-reaching impacts” for the community and that the club previously lost dozens of members in a plane crash in 1961.
JAN 3010:19 AM EST

Secretary of Defense Hegseth provides update on air collision outside DCA

Sec. of Defense Hegseth provides update on air collision outside DCA
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth provides an update on the mid-air collision between a military helicopter and a passenger jet near Reagan Washington National Airport Wednesday night.
JAN 3010:13 AM EST

Map: Where the plane from Kansas and helicopter from Fort Belvoir crashed

The crash occurred near Washington Reagan National Airport as the passenger jet was preparing to land.

JAN 3010:11 AM EST

Residents of military base find jet fuel on their vehicles following crash

On Thursday morning, residents of the military installation Joint Base Anacostia Bolling woke to find jet fuel on their vehicles following the crash.

One resident, Ashlyn Finch, shared a picture of her car covered in fuel.

JBAB told residents in a post on Facebook that there are currently no water quality concerns related to potability for the installation.

JAN 3010:08 AM EST

Midair collision in DC marks first US jet crash since 2009

The midair collision between the American Airlines passenger plane and military helicopter Wednesday night is the first fatal disaster involving a U.S. commercial aircraft in 16 years. 

The most recent deadliest crash occurred on Feb. 12, 2009, near Buffalo, New York, when the Bombardier DHC-8 propeller plane crashed into a house. All 45 passengers, including four crew members, were killed, along with one person on the ground.

On Nov. 12, 2001, a mere two months after the 9/11 terrorist attack, another American Airlines flight crashed in New York and killed all 260 people on board, resulting in the highest death toll for any single airliner crash in U.S. history.

D.C.'s mid-air collision crash also evoked another disaster in the Potomac nearly four decades ago, when an Air Florida flight crash in 1982 killed 78.

JAN 3010:01 AM EST

President Trump to hold press briefing at White House

President Donald Trump will hold a press briefing on the American Airlines and military helicopter crash at 11 a.m. in the James S. Brady Briefing Room, according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

JAN 3010:00 AM EST

‘Our hearts break': Former President Obama offers condolences to victims

Former President Barack Obama said he and Michelle Obama are sending "prayers and condolences to everyone mourning today" in a post on X.

"Our hearts break for the families who lost loved ones in the tragic plane and helicopter crash at DCA," Obama said in the post.

Obama also said they are grateful to the first responders "who are doing everything they can to help under extremely difficult circumstances."

JAN 309:39 AM EST

Before air disaster, Reagan National Airport resisted effort to add flights

Some of the busiest airspace in the nation surrounds Washington Reagan National Airport.

DCA is home to the busiest runway in the country. Couple that with all of the helicopter traffic flying out of Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling or the Pentagon, and it becomes a very crowded space.

Before air disaster, Reagan National Airport resisted effort to add flights
News4 Investigative Reporter Ted Oberg reports on what we know about the plane involved in the air disaster near Reagan National Airport, which operates in some of the busiest airspace in the nation.

The Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority fought the effort to add more flights to the airport last year.

At the time, they said DCA has a narrow restricted corridor for takeoffs and landings.

JAN 309:34 AM EST

National Harbor closes plaza and piers due to debris from crash

The plaza and piers at National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland are closed due to debris, Prince George’s County’s Acting County Executive Tara Jackson said in a post on X.

Debris was found across Prince George's County from the American Airlines flight and Sikorsky helicopter that crashed, Jackson said.

The piers and plaza are closed so crews can continue search and recovery efforts.

JAN 309:33 AM EST

Wichita Mayor Wu: ‘Our hearts are heavy'

Wichita Mayor Lily Wu spoke to reporters at a press conference this morning, saying that "our hearts are heavy as a city."

"We mourn with all those who have been impacted. This is a terrible tragedy that will unite those in Washington, D.C., and Wichita, Kansas, forever," she said.

Wu said that she does not yet know a final confirmation of the individuals who were on the flight, but that no names would be released until their families had first been contacted.

The mayor added that today at noon local time, there will be a communitywide prayer vigil held in Wichita City Hall.

"Our community needs to come together to support the family members who have been impacted, to come together in honor of those individuals on that flight," Wu said.

JAN 309:29 AM EST

Officials ‘don't believe there are any survivors' from DCA collision

‘We don't believe there are any survivors': Officials provide updates on collision near DCA
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy and others held a press conference Thursday morning to provide the latest details on a mid-air collision between an American Airlines passenger jet and a military helicopter.
JAN 309:17 AM EST

6 members of Massachusetts figure skating club were aboard crashed flight

A Massachusetts skating club has learned that six of its community members were among those on board the American Airlines flight that collided with a military helicopter over the Potomac River Wednesday night.

The Skating Club of Boston told NBC10 Boston it had two skaters, two coaches and two parents on the flight.

Former world champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov joined the staff at The Skating Club of Boston in Norwood, Massachusetts, in 2017, according to the club website. Shishkova, 52, and Naumov, 55, won the pairs figure skating event at the 1994 World Figure Skating Championships. The couple has been living in the U.S. since 1998 after retiring from competitive skating, according to Russian state news agency TASS. Russian officials have confirmed the pair was on the flight.

The skating club has not named the other members on the flight. They are expected to give a statement on Thursday morning, which will be livestreamed by NBC10 Boston here.

JAN 309:13 AM EST

American Airlines grieves 4 crew members in crash

Robert Isom, the CEO of American Airlines, said they are grieving the loss of four crew members who were onboard the flight that crashed into a military helicopter on Wednesday night.

Two were flight attendants and two were pilots.

The captain worked for the American Eagle Flight for six years and the other co-pilot worked for the airline for two years, according to American Airlines.

JAN 309:11 AM EST

Sikorsky offers support to investigation

Sikorsky, which manufactured the H-60 military helicopter involved in the collision, offered its support to those impacted.

"We are aware of the incident and send our condolences to those affected," a spokesperson for Sikorsky said in a statement Wednesday night. "We have offered our support to the investigation and our customers. Safety is our top priority."

JAN 309:08 AM EST

Transportation secretary says crash was ‘absolutely' preventable

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy echoed President Donald Trump's claim that the collision was preventable.

"To back up what the president said, what I’ve seen so far, do I think this was preventable? Absolutely," he said. 

JAN 308:56 AM EST

No black boxes have been recovered from crash scene: Source

No black boxes have been recovered yet from the scene of the collision, a National Transportation Safety Board source told NBC News.

​​​Large commercial aircraft and some smaller commercial, corporate and private aircraft are required by the FAA to be equipped with two "black boxes" that record information about a flight, according to the NTSB.

JAN 308:56 AM EST

Kaine: ‘It's not a time to speculate'

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., urged the public to be patient as authorities get answers to last night's deadly crash.

"Sorrow, thanks and questions. Sorrow, as all have expressed, to the crew, to the passengers, to the soldiers, to their families, to their friends, to their loved ones, to people who are still trying to get information and unsure whether their loved ones have been lost," he said at this morning's news conference. "We offer our profound condolences to them and our sorrow for this tragedy."

He said there will be many questions that the National Transportation Safety Board will now be tasked with answering. 

"It’s not a time to speculate," he said. "It’s a time to investigate and get answers to the questions we need, and I’m confident that will be done."

JAN 308:40 AM EST

Recovery operation continues in the Potomac River

Potomac River
Medical officials conduct an operation on an American Airlines plane in the water after it collided midair with a military helicopter and crashed into the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 30, 2025. (Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty Images)
JAN 308:35 AM EST

Officials confident they will recover all bodies

D.C. Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly said he is confident officials will be able to recover all bodies of those killed in the collision.

"I’m confident that we will do that," he said. "That will take us a little bit of time, though. It may involve some more equipment."

Donnelly added that the National Transportation Safety Board will lead the next stage of the recovery operation.

JAN 308:33 AM EST

AA CEO: ‘We don't know why the military aircraft came into the path' of passenger flight

Speaking at this morning's briefing, American Airlines CEO Robert Isom said it is unclear why the military helicopter came into the path of the passenger flight.

“At this time, we don’t know why the military aircraft came into the path of the PSA aircraft,” he said.

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy said that both aircrafts involved in the crash were in standard flight patterns.

JAN 308:21 AM EST

American Airlines to give support to families of victims

American Airlines has 100 team members "either here or on the way" to assist families of victims. The American Airlines workers are specially trained to handle travel arrangements, hotel arrangements and other assistance.

American Airlines is sending support to Washington D.C. to "make sure we are taking care of people in any way we can," American Airlines president Robert Isom said.

There are also family assistance centers in DCA and Wichita, Kansas.

JAN 308:11 AM EST

Secretary of Transportation says there was no communication breakdown

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy said there was no communication breakdown between the American Airlines flight and a military helicopter that collided.

"Now, obviously there was something happened here," U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy said. "You'll get more information and more details as this investigation moves forward, we'll learn what happened.

"But again, those who live in the D.C. area, we see military helicopters fly up and down the river. It's a standard path that they fly. They're used to aircraft landing at DCA, and there's a procedure in place, because this happens every day.

"Something went wrong here. I look forward to the time and point when we can give you that information, but I don't want to comment on that right now."

JAN 308:04 AM EST

DCA to reopen at 11 a.m.: ‘It's safe'

Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority president Jack Potter said Reagan National Airport is safe and will reopen at 11 a.m.

All flights were stopped after the fatal crash.

“It’s safe,” Potter said. “We’ve worked with all the federal agencies, FAA, and, you know, it’s been determined that we’ve opened that airport safely.”

Recovery efforts continue on airport property that’s on the waterfront, and that area will be secured, Potter said.

Airline operations may be affected because of all the canceled flights overnight.

JAN 308:00 AM EST

Officials switching to recovery operation

Rescuers are conducting a recovery operation, as there are not believed to be any survivors from the crash, D.C. Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly said.

"We are now at a point where we’re switching from a rescue operation to a recovery operation," he said. "At this point, we don’t believe there are any survivors from this accident."

First responders are dealing with extremely frigid conditions on the Potomac River.

Numerous agencies will assist in the effort, including Maryland State Police, the Department of Defense, the Coast Guard, the National Transportation Safety Board and more local authorities.

JAN 307:51 AM EST

‘How very sad': DC mayor speaks at DCA press conference

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said families from across the D.C. region, plus in Kansas and across the country, are affected by the tragedy.

"How very sad we are for American Airlines for the United States Department of Defense and for all Americans for the loss of life that happened with the collision of these aircraft," Bowser said. "We all share a profound sense of grief."

JAN 307:51 AM EST

Plane's fuselage inverted and found in waist deep water

The fuselage on the American Airlines flight was inverted and found in three different sections in waist deep water, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy said.

Duffy also said that both aircrafts involved in the crash were in standard flight patterns.

JAN 307:47 AM EST

‘No survivors,' DC fire chief says

“At this point, we don’t believe there are survivors from this accident, and we have recovered 27 people from this plane and one from the helicopter,” D.C. Fire and EMS Chief John A. Donnelly said.

JAN 307:34 AM EST

Kremlin confirms Russian figure skating champions were on plane

The Kremlin has confirmed that Russian figure skaters, as well as other Russian nationals, were on the American Airlines plane that crashed into the Potomac River near Washington, D.C.

Spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed to reporters Thursday that Russian figure skaters Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, who won the pairs title at the 1994 World Figure Skating Championships and competed at the Winter Olympics twice, were aboard the plane.

Peskov did not name the Shishkova and Naumov, but he answered in the affirmative when asked whether they were aboard the flight, according to the Washington Post.

Shishkova and Naumov are listed as professional pairs coaches on the website of the Skating Club of Boston. Their son, Maxim Naumov, is a competitive figure skater for the U.S.

JAN 307:20 AM EST

Virginia lawmakers to join press conference at DCA

U.S. Sens. for Virginia Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, plus Virginia Rep. Don Beyer, will join a press conference at Reagan National Airport about the plane and helicopter crash in the Potomac River.

Warner, Kaine and Beyer are expected to appear with D.C. Mayor Bowser at the news conference set for 7:30 a.m. today.

JAN 307:17 AM EST

Maps show routes of passenger plane, military helicopter before deadly crash

Maps show routes of passenger plane, military helicopter before fatal crash
Tracking the path of two aircraft before they collided near Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C.
JAN 306:55 AM EST

What's the CRJ700? Passenger plane that crashed is a small, regional jet

A CRJ700 regional jet was the aircraft that crashed with a Sikorsky H-60 military helicopter and fell into the Potomac River.

If you've ever flown a regional jet, you likely know this kind of plane. It's about 100 feet long. Inside, it’s only 6 feet tall. Two exits are situated at the front of the plane, and two more are over the wings.

Up to 71 people can fit on board. We know American Airlines flight 5342 had 64 on board, including four crew.

We do know that D.C. Fire divers were able to get inside this plane and either walk or swim through the length of it looking for any survivors. As the night went on, grim news emerged that bodies had been recovered.

JAN 306:38 AM EST

Local man heard collision that ‘sounded like a war zone'

A man who lives alongside the Potomac River heard the moment American Eagle Flight 5342 collided with a U.S. military helicopter late last night and described the sound as like something from a movie or a war zone.

"I was getting ready to go to bed, laying down, when I hear the 'bang bang,' a very unusual sound, something you don’t hear on a daily basis," said 38-year-old Abadi Ismail.

"It’s more like on a war zone, something you hear on the movies action. So that caught my attention," he added.

Ismail looked out of his apartment window, which has views of the river, and saw smoke from the south of Reagan Airport and began to film the unfolding rescue operation.

JAN 306:23 AM EST

More than 30 bodies recovered from Potomac River, two sources say

Emergency crews have recovered more than 30 bodies from the water after the air disaster near Reagan National Airport, two sources familiar with search efforts said.

The American Airlines plane had 60 passengers and four crew members on board when it crashed with a military helicopter late Wednesday.

A massive search and recovery effort is underway on the frigid river.

JAN 306:10 AM EST

Temporary morgue set up in DC to receive remains from air crash

A recovery center has been set up at the DC Fire Helipad at South Capitol Street SW in D.C. to receive remains from the Potomac River crash.

Boats arrive at the area and ambulances transfer human remains to red tents, a sort of temporary morgue.

‘Temporary morgue' put in place as bodies are recovered from Potomac River
The D.C. Medical Examiner says that the recovery center set up from the plane and helicopter crash is the largest recovery operation undertaken in D.C. in decades. News4's Jackie Bensen describes how bodies are being taken to red tents in a "temporary morgue."

The D.C. Medical Examiner is calling the recovery center the largest recovery operation undertaken in D.C. in decades.

JAN 305:53 AM EST

Two Russian figure skating champions were on board the plane, Russian state media says

World figure skating champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were aboard the American Airlines plane, Russian state media outlets have reported.

Russian news agency TASS reported and RIA Novosti both carried the news, each citing an unnamed source.

Shishkova, 52, and Naumov, 55, are 1994 World Championship winners in pairs figure skating and were working as national team coaches for Russia.

Russian figure skaters Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov in 1995. Chris Cole/ALLSPORT

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Russian nationals were onboard but did not specify the duo. "Bad news from Washington today," he told reporters in his daily news conference. "We grieve and console with the families and friends who lost those of our fellow citizens who died in this plane crash."

JAN 305:35 AM EST

DC's Mayor Bowser offers ‘love and prayers' to families affected by tragedy

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said in a post on X that she sends "love and prayers" to "families, loved ones, and communities experiencing loss during this terrible tragedy."

Bowser shared the post during Tuesday's early morning hours as first responders continued their rescue efforts.

Bowser also said D.C. officials expect to host a news conference at 7:30 a.m.

JAN 305:21 AM EST

Former NTSB investigator: ‘Very limited room for error' near DCA

A former NTSB investigator who worked on another crash in the area in 1982, said the airspace is highly restricted due to the presence of several monuments.

“It’s very tight airspace,” Alan Diehl told NBC's "Early Today".

“You really have to be on to your game. The pilots and the controllers that fly in and out of there are well trained and well aware of these restrictions," he said.


JAN 305:02 AM EST

Roads closed in Southwest DC to help recovery effort

D.C. police say some streets are closed to support the recovery on the Potomac River. The closures are near the Fort McNair Fire Station and Buzzard Point.

Closures include:

  • Potomac Avenue from South Capitol Street to 2nd Street, SW
  • 2nd Street from Q Street to V Street, SW
  • First Street from Q Street to V Street, SW
  • Half Street from Q Street to V Street, SW
  • V Street from 2nd Street to Half Street, SW

Closures could change and anyone in the area is asked to follow directions from police.

JAN 304:38 AM EST

Kansas Aviation Museum posts that Wichita has ‘suffered an enormous tragedy'

The Kansas Aviation Museum announced that there will be a citywide prayer vigil on Thursday.

“Tonight our community and nation has suffered an enormous tragedy,” the Kansas Aviation Museum, based in Wichita, posted on Facebook. The organization said a prayer vigil was planned for Thursday afternoon at Wichita City Hall.

“All are welcome to join in prayer and support for our community,” the post said.

The vigil will take place in the Wichita City Council Chambers at 12 p.m. (1 p.m. ET), the museum said.

JAN 304:13 AM EST

American Airlines introduced the flight from Kansas to Washington Reagan National Airport a year ago

American Airlines introduced the nonstop flight from Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport in Wichita, Kansas, to Washington Reagan National Airport about one year ago, taking the inaugural flight in January 2024, according to The Wichita Eagle.

JAN 303:37 AM EST

Another Black Hawk from Fort Belvoir involved in fatal crash in 2017

The helicopter involved in Wednesday night's crash is the same type of aircraft that crashed in Maryland in 2017, killing one and injuring two.

In April 2017, a UH-60 Black Hawk crashed onto a golf course in Leonardtown, about 60 miles southeast of D.C. The Army said Spc. Jeremy Tomlin, 22, from Chapel Hill, Tennessee, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The helicopters in both instances were based out of Fort Belvoir and were on training flights.

JAN 302:46 AM EST

Several members of US Figure Skating were on board the American Airlines flight

U.S. Figure Skating issued a statement confirming that several members, including athletes, coaches, and family members, were aboard the American Airlines jet.

“U.S. Figure Skating can confirm that several members of our skating community were sadly aboard American Airlines Flight 5342, which collided with a helicopter yesterday evening in Washington, D.C.,” the statement said.

The association added that they were returning home from the National Development Camp held in conjunction with the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas.

“We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts."

JAN 302:13 AM EST

Photos: Search efforts near airplane wreckage in the Potomac River

Emergency response units assess airplane wreckage in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington Airport on Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Virginia. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Emergency response units assess airplane wreckage in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington Airport on Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Virginia. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
JAN 302:08 AM EST

Approximately 19 flights were diverted to Dulles International Airport after the crash 

Approximately 19 flights in the air near DCA at the moment of the crash were diverted to Dulles International Airport, officials said at a news conference after midnight. 

Reagan National Airport is expected to remain closed through at least 11 a.m. Thursday.

JAN 302:04 AM EST

New US transportation secretary confirmed a day before crash

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is responding to the plane and helicopter crash into the Potomac River a day after he was confirmed.

“I’ve been secretary for a little over a day, and the tragedy is touching everyone,” he said at a news conference after midnight.

He is a former Wisconsin congressman and former reality TV star who promised less regulation, among other goals.

US secretary of transportation, Sean Duffy, speaks at a media briefing at Reagan National Airport after a plane crashed into the Potomac River outside Washington, DC, January 30, 2025. A regional jet from Kansas crashed into Washington's Potomac River after colliding mid-air with a military helicopter near Reagan National Airport, officials said January 29, prompting a major emergency response and grounding all flights. (Photo by Ting Shen / AFP) (Photo by TING SHEN/AFP via Getty Images)
JAN 301:52 AM EST

News conference: Officials speak about plane crash tragedy

D.C.’s mayor, D.C.’s fire chief, the recently confirmed U.S. transportation secretary and others gave an update after midnight on the plane and helicopter crash. Here’s video.

Officials provide update on midair collision near DCA
Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and other officials provided an update on the midair collision between a military helicopter and a passenger jet near DCA.
JAN 301:46 AM EST

DC officials, new US transportation secretary describe large, ongoing operation

National and D.C.-area officials provided an update to the search and rescue mission ongoing in the Potomac River, where around 300 responders are working to find victims.

In a news conference, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said rescue personnel are working "diligently" in "very dark and cold conditions.”

While officials couldn’t discuss specifics about the number of deaths or survivors so far, they said they hope to be able to share more information as the situation develops.

“But for right now, it's a very difficult situation out there with the cold,” said Jack Potter, president and CEO of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. “It's very dark, but there are numerous boats out there. There are dive teams out there."

Transportation Sec. Sean Duffy, who was confirmed Tuesday, said he has been in conversation with President Donald Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and local officials.

JAN 301:38 AM EST

Emergency crews to continue search for survivors

More than 300 first responders are working overnight on search-and-rescue efforts. DC Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly was asked at a news conference after midnight if he expected survivors to be found.

“We don’t know yet, but we are working,” he replied.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said officials could not immediately speak about victims or rescues.

Officials provide update on midair collision near DCA
Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and other officials provided an update on the midair collision between a military helicopter and a passenger jet near DCA.
JAN 301:20 AM EST

Airport closed: DCA to remain closed through 11 a.m. Thursday

Reagan National Airport is expected to remain closed through at least 11 a.m. Thursday, officials said at a news conference after midnight.

JAN 301:17 AM EST

Over 300 first responders working on search-and-rescue operation, DC Fire Chief says

Over 300 first responders are working at the scene of the plane crash on search-and-rescue efforts, DC Fire and EMS Chief John A. Donnelly Sr. said.

"At 8:58 (p.m.), the first units arrived on the scene and found an aircraft in the water and began rescue operations, this incident has grown,” Donnelly said.

“The conditions out there are extremely rough,” Donnelly said. He said conditions are cold and also windy.

JAN 301:16 AM EST

Pete Hegseth says Pentagon and Army have launched an investigation

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted oX that the Pentagon and the U.S. Army are investigating the crash.

Hegseth wrote that the investigation was “launched immediately.” 

“Absolutely tragic. Search and rescue efforts still ongoing. Prayers for all impacted souls, and their families,” he added. 

JAN 301:16 AM EST

Kansas lawmakers wait at Reagan Airport for answers

Kansas Sens. Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall are at Reagan Airport as they wait for answers about the crash from authorities.

Moran told NBC News that the regional jet involved in the collision was flying a route he is all too familiar with: Moran said he lobbied for the direct Wichita-to-D.C. path and that he and his wife have flown it many times.

Moran and Marshall both said they likely know people who were aboard at the time of the crash.

“There’s no question that people on this flight would be people that I know,” Moran said.

Though casualties are not yet confirmed, Marshall, a physician, said he had not seen ambulances leave the area or rescuers perform CPR. Both senators said the days following the search and rescue operation will be focused on figuring out why the crash happened.

JAN 301:07 AM EST

More than a dozen bodies recovered, two sources say

Emergency crews have recovered more than a dozen bodies after the plane and helicopter crash near Reagan National Airport, two sources familiar with search efforts say. The figure is approaching 20 people recovered so far.

JAN 301:02 AM EST

‘I ask everyone to pray': Virginia governor briefed on crash

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin has been briefed by emergency management and Virginia State Police about the midair collision near Reagan National Airport, he posted on X.

He noted first responders from across Northern Virginia were among those to respond.

"I ask everyone to pray for the passengers, crews, their families, and brave first responders," he wrote.

JAN 3012:58 AM EST

Trump says situation ‘should have been prevented'

President Donald Trump called tonight a "terrible night" in a post on Truth Social and said the situation "should have been prevented."

"The airplane was on a perfect and routine line of approach to the airport. The helicopter was going straight at the airplane for an extended period of time. 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. This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented. NOT GOOD!!!" Trump said.

The National Transportation Safety Board said it has launched a go-team to investigate the crash. The cause has not been determined.

In a follow-up post, Trump said: "What a terrible night this has been. God bless you all!"

JAN 3012:52 AM EST

‘Deep sorrow': AA CEO says focus is on passengers, families and crew after crash

American Airlines CEO Robert Isom issued a statement late Wednesday after an American Eagle flight appeared to have collided with a military helicopter and crashed into the Potomac River near Washington, D.C.

American Airlines CEO releases statement on midair collision
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom issued a statement about the crash of an American Eagle passenger jet and a military helicopter near DCA.

Read the full statement:

Hello everyone. I'm Robert Isom, the CEO of American Airlines. I want to brief you on a serious accident that occurred involving an American Eagle aircraft. The aircraft was operated by PSA Airlines, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Airlines. First and most importantly, I'd like to express our deep sorrow about these events. 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. I know that there are many questions, and at this early stage, I'll not be able to answer all of them, but I do want to share the information I have at this time.

American Eagle flight, 5342 operated by PSA Airlines, a CRJ-700 aircraft traveling from Wichita, Kansas, to Washington Reagan National Airport has been involved in an accident near Washington, D.C. It appears to have collided with a military aircraft on approach. Flight 5342 was under the command of four crew members and carried 60 passengers for a total of 64 people on board.

JAN 3012:48 AM EST

Last fatal US commercial airline crash was in 2009

The last fatal crash involving a U.S. commercial airline occurred in 2009 in New York, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.

Everyone aboard the Bombardier DHC-8 propeller plane was killed, including 45 passengers, two pilots and two flight attendants. Another person on the ground also died, bringing the total death toll to 50. An investigation determined the captain accidentally caused the plane to stall as it approached an airport in Buffalo.

JAN 3012:37 AM EST

Photos: Massive response to crash of commercial jet, helicopter into Potomac

Fireboats are in the water, and the Metropolitan Police Department and fire departments from all around the area are also at the site on both sides of the river.

Emergency vehicles and rescue crews gather along the Potomac River near Reagan National Airport after an air crash near Washington, DC, on January 29, 2025. A regional jet from Kansas crashed into Washington's Potomac River after colliding mid-air with a military helicopter near Reagan National Airport, officials said Wednesday, prompting a major emergency response and grounding all flights. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP) (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 29: Emergency response units conduct search and rescue operations in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington Airport on January 29, 2025 in Washington, DC. An American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas collided with a helicopter while approaching Ronald Reagan National Airport. (Photo by Al Drago/Getty Images)
A US Park Police officer carries police tape near the crash site near the Potomac River after a passenger jet collided with a helicopter while landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) in Arlington, Virginia, US, on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. A PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet collided in midair with a military helicopter Sikorsky H-60 while on approach to Runway 33 at Reagan Washington National Airport around 9 p.m. local time, according to a FAA statement. Photographer: Alex Wroblewski/Bloomberg via Getty Images

See more images from the crash response here.

JAN 3012:36 AM EST

Passenger on another plane recalls hearing about the accident

Nicole, a passenger on a different plane who preferred not to be identified by her last name, told NBC News that she was onboard a departing plane sitting on the tarmac when she heard the news about the plane crash.

Her flight’s departure was delayed, and “all of a sudden” she saw firetrucks approaching the area, she said.

“What’s going on?” she said she wondered.

“We saw the helicopters. I was like, ‘They’re looking for something,’” said Nicole. “Eventually, we started to get texts to hear that there was a crash in the river.”

The flight’s captain eventually informed passengers about the accident, Nicole said.

JAN 3012:32 AM EST

DC medical examiner preparing to recover crash victims

D.C. officials are preparing to recover victims of the plane and helicopter crash near Reagan National Airport, a source tells NBC4.

Amid shock over the tragedy, the D.C. Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is preparing for the largest recovery of bodies they have handled in decades, the source said.

JAN 3012:07 AM EST

‘There was a collision': Air traffic control recording captures moment of crash

Audio from the air traffic control tower captures the moment officials saw a plane and helicopter crash near Reagan National Airport.

“There was a collision on the approach into 33,” someone can be heard saying. “We’re going to be shutting down operations for the indefinite future.

‘There was a collision': Air traffic control recording captures moment of crash
Audio from the air traffic control tower captures the moment officials saw a plane and helicopter crash near Reagan National Airport. 
JAN 3012:07 AM EST

Aproximate area of plane crash

 The area circled in red shows the approximate area where American Eagle flight 5342 crashed in the Potomac River near Reagan National Airport.

JAN 3012:02 AM EST

A look at the area where airplane and helicopter collided

American Airlines Flight 5342 and a Army Black Hawk helicopter collided as they approached the airport.

News4's Doug Kammerer mapped out exactly where and how the crash took place.

A look at the area where helicopter and airplane collided at DCA
Chief Meteorologist Doug Kammerer describes the area around DCA where a military helicopter collided with a passenger jet.
JAN 3012:02 AM EST

Crash into freezing Potomac calls to mind 1982 crash of Air Florida Flight 90

This isn't the first commercial airliner to crash into the frigid Potomac River not far from Reagan National Airport.

On Jan. 13, 1982, more than 70 people aboard Air Florida Flight 90 died after the plane crashed moments after taking off from National, striking the 14th Street Bridge on its way down and killing four others on the bridge.

It had been snowing all day. The airport had to be closed for more than an hour to clear the runway of accumulating snow. The Boeing 737 had been de-iced but then sat on the runway for almost an hour, with snow and ice rebuilding on the wings all the while.

At liftoff, the plane began to shake violently. It was briefly airborne before it slammed into the 14th Street Bridge, smashing cars and then sliding into the freezing river.

From the archives: Heroes pull people from icy Potomac after 1982 jet crash
It's been 42 years since Air Florida Flight 90 struggled to take off from Washington National Airport, struck the 14th Street Bridge and then plunged into icy water. But the daring rescue is still impressive decades later.
JAN 3012:01 AM EST

Metro extends Silver Line and bus service

Metro is extending Silver Line service from Dulles International Airport to Metro Center, with stops in between to help people with diverted flights.

There will also be Metrobuses at Metro Center to transport people back to their cars at Reagan National Airport.

WMATA has also sent warming buses to assist with rescue efforts, WMATA General Manager Randy Clarke said in a post on X.

JAN 2911:51 PM EST

Reagan National Washington Airport closed until at least 5 a.m., FAA says

Tierney L. Cross/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Monitors display emergency alerts at Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) after a passenger jet collided with a helicopter while landing in Arlington, Virginia, US, on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025.

Reagan National Washington Airport is closed until at least 5 a.m., according to the FAA website.

American Airlines officials say anyone who believes they might have loved ones on Flight 5342 can call the airline toll-free at 800-679-8215.

JAN 2911:43 PM EST

Helicopter was on a training flight, military official says

The helicopter involved in the collision was participating in a training flight, a U.S. military official told NBC News.

“We can confirm that the aircraft involved in tonight’s incident was an Army UH-60 helicopter from Bravo Company, 12th Aviation Battalion, out of Davison Army Airfield, Fort Belvoir during a training flight," the official said, adding that the military was working with local officials and would provide more details once they're available.

JAN 2911:40 PM EST

Witness describes seeing plane in moments before it crashed

A man driving south on George Washington Memorial Parkway near the airport said he saw the plane before it crashed.

“It looked very, very wrong,” Ari Schulman said live on News4.

He described seeing the plane sharply bank to one side in the dark. He said he saw “a stream of sparks” on the underside of the plane and then a “very bright flash.”

Witness describes seeing plane in moments before it crashed
A man driving south on George Washington Memorial Parkway near the airport said he saw the plane before it crashed. “It looked very, very wrong,” he said. 
JAN 2911:37 PM EST

Video shows collision of plane and helicopter near DCA

Video from the web camera network EarthCam shows the moment of the collision.

It shows a fireball upon impact.

News4's Doug Kammerer describes what the video shows.

Video shows moment plane and helicopter collided near DCA
NBC Washington's Doug Kammerer breaks down video of the in-air collision of commercial airplane and a military helicopter.
JAN 2911:29 PM EST

What is PSA Airlines?

A small commercial airliner collided with a military helicopter midair while attempting to land at Reagan National Airport Wednesday evening, D.C. Fire and EMS confirmed.

The airliner, which departed from Wichita, Kansas, was operated by PSA Airlines.

Here's everything you need to know about PSA Airlines, a regional airline that's a wholly owned subsidiary of the American Airlines Group.

JAN 2911:25 PM EST

Where is the debris from the crash between a plane and helicopter near DCA?

Debris from the crash between the regional jet and the helicopter is near Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, close to the east side of the Potomac River, two sources tell NBC4.

D.C. police department and fire department divers have plunged into the river. The plane was split in two and is immersed in about seven feet of water, sources said.

The helicopter is upside-down and bobbing in the water, two sources said. Crews have not been able to get inside the helicopter because it was unstable, sources said.

JAN 2911:21 PM EST

DCA plane crash survivors and rescue crews face cold conditions

The water temperature of the Potomac River is about 37°, Storm Team4’s Doug Kammerer said live on News4. At that temperature, someone has 15 to 20 minutes before suffering from hypothermia, he said.

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