Tragic Plane and Helicopter Collision Over Potomac River Leaves 67 Presumed Dead
Washington, D.C. – U.S. passenger plane crashed into the Potomac River while attempting to land at Ronald Reagan National Airport after a mid-air collision with a military helicopter, leaving all 67 people on board presumed dead. Authorities have confirmed that 28 bodies have been recovered so far, including 27 from the plane and one from the helicopter.
The tragic incident occurred at approximately 9 p.m. on Wednesday. The aircraft, an American Eagle flight travelling from Wichita, Kansas, was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members. The UH-60 Black Hawk military helicopter, which was conducting a training flight from Fort Belvoir, Virginia, had three soldiers on board.
Search and Recovery Efforts
Washington, D.C., Fire Chief John Donnelly stated that no survivors are expected to be found, and the rescue mission has transitioned into a body recovery operation. Efforts have been severely hindered by extreme cold, strong winds, and ice covering the river.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the incident in an official statement, and Ronald Reagan National Airport has suspended all takeoffs and landings in response to the crash.
Investigation and Black Box Recovery
Authorities have recovered both black boxes from the aircraft, which will aid in determining the cause of the crash. The Pentagon confirmed that the military helicopter was engaged in a routine training exercise at the time of the collision.
Victims Include Former World Champion Figure Skaters
Among those killed in the crash were renowned Russian-born figure skaters Yevgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, along with a group of 13 skaters returning from an event in Wichita. The Kremlin has also confirmed their deaths.
Response from Officials
U.S. President Donald Trump acknowledged the incident, stating that he had received a full briefing. In a social media post, he criticised the airport’s air traffic control system, questioning how a commercial aircraft and a military helicopter—both operating routinely—could come into conflict. Trump further raised concerns about possible failures in the control tower’s oversight.
Emergency services continue their search efforts, though officials acknowledge that the likelihood of finding additional survivors remains extremely low. The accident has raised serious questions about aviation safety protocols, and a full investigation is now underway.
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