(Washington, D.C.) – Tragic Midair Collision Claims Lives Near Reagan Airport
A devastating midair collision between an American Airlines passenger jet and a U.S. military Black Hawk helicopter near Washington’s Reagan National Airport resulted in both aircraft plunging into the Potomac River, leaving at least 18 confirmed dead.
On Wednesday evening, an American Airlines regional passenger jet and a UH-60 Black Hawk military helicopter collided in midair near Reagan National Airport, leading to a catastrophic crash into the Potomac River. Authorities have recovered at least 18 bodies, and rescue efforts continue, though hopes of finding survivors are fading. The total number of people on board was 67, with 64 aboard the passenger plane and three military personnel in the helicopter.
U.S. Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas, the departure location of the passenger plane, expressed profound grief, suggesting that there were likely no survivors. “To lose probably more than 60 Kansans at the same time is really painful,” he stated during a press conference at Reagan Airport early Thursday morning. “When one person dies, it’s a tragedy, but when many, many, many people die, it’s unbearable grief.”
Jack Potter, President and CEO of the Washington Airports Authority, confirmed that the rescue operation remains ongoing. Meanwhile, reports from CBS News indicate that the majority of the recovered bodies were found in the river. Reuters sources corroborated that a significant number of victims had been retrieved from the water.
Crash Details
| Aircraft | Airline/Operator | Number of People on Board |
|---|---|---|
| CRJ Passenger Jet | American Airlines | 64 (60 passengers, 4 crew) |
| UH-60 Black Hawk | U.S. Military | 3 |
The collision occurred as the CRJ passenger plane, en route from Wichita, Kansas, was making its final approach to Reagan Airport. Preliminary air traffic control recordings suggest that the Black Hawk crew was aware of the jet’s approach before the impact. Authorities, including the Pentagon, have launched an immediate investigation into the cause of the disaster.
In a post on Truth Social, U.S. President Donald Trump assigned blame to both the helicopter crew and air traffic controllers. “The helicopter flew directly at the airplane for a long period of time. It’s a CLEAR NIGHT, the lights on the plane were on, 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 could see the plane? This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented. BAD!!!” Trump wrote.
Air traffic control records reveal that controllers made a final attempt to contact the Black Hawk, call sign PAT25, moments before the collision. A nearby pilot reportedly alerted the tower after the incident, exclaiming, “Tower, did you see that?” Following the disaster, air traffic controllers diverted incoming flights to runway 33 to mitigate further risks.
