A devastating mid-air collision between an American Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter has left all 67 people on board both aircraft feared dead. The fatal crash occurred over the Potomac River on Wednesday Jan. 29, as the jet approached Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Following this aviation disaster, officials have launched a large-scale search-and-rescue operation, with at least 19 bodies recovered so far.
Key points
- 19 bodies were recovered by search and rescue crews
- American Airlines jet crashes into Black Hawk helicopter approaching DC airport
- Young figure skaters feared to be dead in the collision
- Kansas senator says ‘we probably lost 60 Kansans tonight’
- Reagan National Airport to be closed until 11am on Thursday Jan. 30
Mid-Air Collision Over DC: What We Know So Far
The Federal Aviation Administration {FAA} confirmed that a PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700, operating as an American Airlines regional flight from Wichita, Kansas, collided mid-air with an Army Black Hawk helicopter around 9 p.m. local time. Officials report that 19 bodies have been recovered from the river, with ongoing recovery efforts still under way.
Eyewitness video footage from the nearby Kennedy Center captured the tragic moment of impact, showing two lights colliding before a flaming fireball engulfed the evening sky and the aircraft plummeted into the Potomac River. In response, the FAA has suspended all flights in and out of Ronald Reagan National Airport until at least 11 a.m. Thursday Jan. 30.
The cause of the collision remains under investigation.
U.S. Figure Skating Community Mourns Victims
Among the passengers aboard the American Airlines flight were several members of the U.S. figure skating community, from athletes, coaches and family members who were returning from the National Development Camp held in tandem with the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas. U.S. Figure Skating underscores this heartbreaking disaster:
We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts. We will continue to monitor the situation and will release more information as it becomes available
As investigations continue and authorities work to recover remains and the cause of the crash, tributes pour in for the victims of this unprecedented accident. More updates are expected in the coming hours.
