A tragic midair collision between a passenger plane and a military helicopter near Washington, D.C., on January 30, 2025, has led authorities to confirm there were no survivors. The passenger jet, carrying 64 people, crashed into the icy Potomac River after striking the U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter. Emergency responders, working through the night in challenging conditions, recovered 28 bodies, including one from the helicopter.
Washington Fire Chief John Donnelly stated that efforts had shifted from rescue to recovery, with emergency teams scouring the river with powerful lights and inflatable boats. The conditions were described as extremely difficult, with frigid temperatures, strong winds, and ice on the water. Over 300 first responders participated in the operation.
The collision took place as the Bombardier aircraft, operated by an American Airlines subsidiary, was approaching Reagan National Airport from Wichita, Kansas, around 9:00 pm local time. The helicopter, carrying three U.S. Army soldiers on a training flight, was involved in the crash, but the cause remains unclear. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy noted the crash could have been prevented, but further investigations are ongoing.
Audio recordings from air traffic controllers revealed confusion in the moments before the crash, with controllers repeatedly asking if the helicopter had the jet in sight. Communication was lost just before the collision, with one controller reporting seeing a “fireball” in the sky.
The passenger jet was reportedly carrying several U.S. Figure Skating athletes, including former world pairs champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, both from Russia. Eyewitness accounts described sparks trailing from the plane before it crashed, and a stream of fiery debris was seen in the sky.
While many officials are awaiting the investigation’s findings, former President Donald Trump criticized air traffic control procedures, questioning why the helicopter did not adjust its course to avoid the plane. The Federal Aviation Administration temporarily grounded all flights at Reagan National, with operations resuming later in the morning.
The Washington airspace, which serves a high volume of air traffic, has seen incidents in the past, including a deadly 1982 crash involving Air Florida Flight 90. The latest tragedy has raised new concerns about airspace safety in the capital.