A devastating midair collision between a U.S. Army helicopter and an American Airlines regional jetliner has claimed the lives of all 67 people aboard both aircraft, making it the deadliest aviation disaster in the United States in nearly a quarter of a century. Authorities are now focusing on the actions of the military pilot and air traffic control as part of an intensive investigation.
The tragic incident occurred late Wednesday as the American Airlines Bombardier CRJ700, carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, was on its final approach to Ronald Reagan National Airport. The Army’s Black Hawk helicopter, with three soldiers aboard, apparently entered the jetliner’s flight path, leading to a catastrophic collision over the icy waters of the Potomac River.
Emergency teams recovered at least 28 bodies from the river as search operations continued. The plane’s fuselage was found in three sections, partially submerged, while the helicopter wreckage was also located nearby. First responders scoured miles of the river for additional victims and debris.
President Donald Trump addressed the nation, confirming there were no survivors. “We are now at the point where we are switching from a rescue operation to a recovery operation,” said John Donnelly, Washington, D.C.’s fire chief.
The crash site, just 4.8 kilometers (3 miles) south of the White House and Capitol is within one of the most tightly monitored airspaces in the world.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation, having already recovered the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder from the American Airlines jet for further analysis. Officials are reviewing air traffic control logs and communication records.
Initial reports indicate that a single air traffic controller was managing both helicopter and airplane traffic at the time of the collision a role typically divided between two people. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) noted that these positions are sometimes combined during lower-traffic hours, but investigators are scrutinizing whether this decision played a role in the tragedy.
“The position configuration was not normal for the time of day and volume of traffic,” stated a report obtained by The Associated Press. However, an anonymous source familiar with FAA operations noted that this staffing level was standard protocol.
Army officials confirmed that both Black Hawk pilots were highly experienced and familiar with the airspace around Washington, D.C. The aircraft had a maximum allowed altitude of 200 feet (60 meters) at the time of the crash. While it remains unclear whether it exceeded that limit, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth suggested that altitude may have been a factor in the collision.
Weather conditions were reported as clear, and flight tracking data showed the jetliner was inbound at an altitude of 400 feet (122 meters) and a speed of 140 mph (225 kph) moments before impact. Just seconds before the crash, an air traffic controller confirmed that the helicopter crew had the jetliner in sight and approved a request for “visual separation,” which allows aircraft to operate closer under pilot discretion.
Among the victims were young figure skaters, their coaches, and four union steamfitters from Washington, D.C. The crash has left a deep impact on the city of Wichita, Kansas home to the U.S. headquarters for Bombardier, which manufactured the CRJ700 jetliner.
Wichita, a major hub for the aviation industry, held a prayer vigil for those lost. “We will get through this, but the only way we will get through this is together,” said Rev. Pamela Hughes Mason of St. Paul AME Church.
Following the tragedy, Reagan National Airport suspended flights for several hours, leaving passengers stranded and in shock. By midday Thursday, flights resumed, though the mood inside the airport remained somber.
“I’ve been crying since yesterday,” said Aster Andemicael, who had been waiting with her father for a flight to Indiana. “This is devastating.”
The Deadliest U.S. Plane Crash Since 2001
Wednesday’s disaster marks the deadliest aviation incident in the U.S. since November 12, 2001, when American Airlines Flight 587 crashed in Belle Harbor, New York, killing 265 people. The last major U.S. commercial airline crash was in 2009 near Buffalo, New York, when 50 people perished.
Despite such tragedies, aviation remains one of the safest forms of travel. The National Safety Council estimates that Americans have a 1-in-93 chance of dying in a car accident, while deaths from commercial air travel are so rare that statistical odds are difficult to determine.
Airspace around Reagan National is among the most complex in the country, requiring pilots to navigate heavy commercial traffic, military aircraft, and restricted zones around federal landmarks. Just 24 hours before the fatal collision, another regional jet had to perform a go-around due to the proximity of a military helicopter.
While investigations into the crash are still in their early stages, the collision has already raised serious concerns about air traffic control staffing levels, safety procedures, and the challenges of operating in congested airspace. The FAA, military, and NTSB continue to analyze flight data to determine what led to this tragic accident.