By Kelly Kasulis Cho,
Helier Cheung and Tobi Raji WAPO
An American Airlines plane and an Army Black Hawk helicopter collided in midair near Reagan National Airport on Wednesday night. Both aircraft crashed into the Potomac River in Washington. Police had pulled 28 bodies from the water as of Thursday morning, according to officials, who believe all passengers and crew aboard the airplane were killed. National Airport reopened to air traffic Thursday morning.
Here’s what we know about the crash so far.
The crash:
American Airlines said 60 passengers and four crew members were aboard American Eagle Flight 5342 from Wichita. The flight — a Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet operated by American Airlines subsidiary PSA Airlines — was set to land in Washington at 8:57 p.m., according to aircraft tracker FlightAware. All are believed to have died in the crash.
The plane and an Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter that was on a training flight collided at 8:47 p.m., according to publicly available flight-tracking data. The helicopter was from the 12th Aviation Battalion at Fort Belvoir in Virginia, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in a video posted Thursday morning.
The military helicopter was found upside down in the water and the plane had broken into pieces, according to a D.C. official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.
Weather around the time of the incident was not out of the ordinary. National Airport reported clear skies, visibility of 10 miles and winds sustained from the northwest at 16 mph, gusting to 26 mph. The temperature was 50 degrees.
The victims
About 20 members of the U.S. Figure Skating community were aboard the American Airlines jet, according to a person professionally involved in the sport who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive matter. Athletes, coaches and family members were returning home from the National Development Camp held in conjunction with the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita.
Four D.C.-area steamfitters were also aboard the jet, the United Association of Union Plumbers, Pipefitters and Steamfitters Local 602 said in a statement Thursday morning. The four were members of Steamfitters Local 602 — a Prince George’s County, Maryland-based union that represents steamfitters and pipe fitters in the D.C. area.
The Association of Flight Attendants, which represents cabin crews at PSA Airlines, said in a statement that two flight attendants were on board the plane.
The military is withholding the identities of the soldiers aboard the helicopter because it has not yet notified all surviving family members, Hegseth said Thursday morning, describing the crew as “fairly experienced.” No senior U.S. leaders were aboard the Black Hawk, two defense officials said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter
Recovery and investigation efforts
The National Transportation Safety Board is leading an investigation into the incident, with help from the Federal Aviation Administration. On Thursday, President Donald Trump tapped Chris Rocheleau, chief operating officer of the National Business Aviation Association, as the FAA’s acting administrator.
All passengers and crew aboard the plane are presumed dead, officials said. Police had pulled 28 bodies from the water, Donnelly said Thursday morning: 27 from the plane and one from the helicopter.
The Army unit involved in the training flight — the 12th Aviation Battalion at Fort Belvoir in Virginia — has paused operations for 48 hours, Hegseth said. The Defense Department is investigating the incident.
The military is withholding the identities of the soldiers aboard the helicopter because it has not yet notified all surviving family members, Hegseth said Thursday morning, describing the crew as “fairly experienced.” No senior U.S. leaders were aboard the Black Hawk, two defense officials said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter
Recovery and investigation efforts
The National Transportation Safety Board is leading an investigation into the incident, with help from the Federal Aviation Administration. On Thursday, President Donald Trump tapped Chris Rocheleau, chief operating officer of the National Business Aviation Association, as the FAA’s acting administrator.
All passengers and crew aboard the plane are presumed dead, officials said. Police had pulled 28 bodies from the water, Donnelly said Thursday morning: 27 from the plane and one from the helicopter.
The Army unit involved in the training flight — the 12th Aviation Battalion at Fort Belvoir in Virginia — has paused operations for 48 hours, Hegseth said. The Defense Department is investigating the incident.
The Coast Guard, Maryland State Police, Metro Transit Police and Maryland Department of Natural Resources have been deployed to the scene. Dive teams from Prince George’s County have also pitched in. D.C. Fire and EMS Chief John A. Donnelly Sr. said he expects operations at the crash site to continue for days, and that the weather is “extrmely rough for the responders.”
The temperature hovered 50 degrees Thursday during the day with light winds — a stark change from Wednesday, when it reached 64 degrees with blustery winds. Water temperatures in the Potomac are in the mid-30s.
The temperature hovered 50 degrees Thursday during the day with light winds — a stark change from Wednesday, when it reached 64 degrees with blustery winds. Water temperatures in the Potomac are in the mid-30s.
Crews found debris as far south as the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, about a mile from the crash, Donnelly said Thursday morning. Nearby National Harbor has been closed to assist search and recovery efforts, acting Prince George’s County Executive Tara Jackson said Thursday morning in a post on X.
Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy said Thursday morning that “everything was standard in the lead-up to the crash” but “obviously, something happened here” to cause the plane and helicopter to collide. “Something went wrong here,” he said, adding that he hopes to release more information later. “Do I think this was preventable? Absolutely,” he added.
Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy said Thursday morning that “everything was standard in the lead-up to the crash” but “obviously, something happened here” to cause the plane and helicopter to collide. “Something went wrong here,” he said, adding that he hopes to release more information later. “Do I think this was preventable? Absolutely,” he added.
Direct flights from Wichita to National Airport started just over a year ago, according to Jesse Romo, the director of airports for the Wichita Airport Authority.
The crash follows a string of close calls at National and other airports, beginning in early 2023, that alarmed officials and the airline industry. It is likely to renew debate over safety and whether the airport is at capacity.
Airline information.
In a video message, American Airlines CEO Robert Isom said that the company has set up a helpline for people who think friends or family members might have been on board the flight.
The airline said those who think they might have had loved ones on the flight should call American Airlines at 800-679-8215. Individuals calling from outside the United States can visit news.aa.com for additional phone numbers. Family members in Canada, Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands can call 800-679-8215 directly.
National Airport reopened to air traffic at 11 a.m. Thursday. The airport said all terminals are open and travelers should check with their airlines because some flights have been delayed or canceled.
