Midair collision between American Airlines jet, Army chopper claims 67 lives in worst US air crash since 2001

Bodies recovered from Potomac River

By Thursday, first responders had pulled at least 28 bodies from the icy waters of the Potomac River, where the wreckage of the American Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet and the Black Hawk helicopter was scattered. The jetliner, en route from Wichita, Kansas, was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members. The helicopter had three military personnel aboard.

Images from the scene showed parts of the plane’s fuselage submerged in waist-deep water, its wing jutting out amid a search operation involving boats and divers. “We are now at the point where we are switching from a rescue operation to a recovery operation,” John Donnelly, the fire chief for Washington, DC, said in a press conference.

Airspace concerns

The collision occurred just three miles from the White House and the US Capitol, in airspace that ranks among the most scrutinized in the world. The American Airlines plane was making its final approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport when the helicopter reportedly flew into its path, leading to the fatal crash.

Preliminary information indicates the helicopter was operating under visual flight rules and may have flown higher than the 200-foot ceiling it was required to maintain. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said altitude seemed to be a factor, but emphasized the need for further analysis before drawing conclusions.

FAA under scrutiny for staffing and procedures

Questions have already been raised about air traffic control procedures that night. A report by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), obtained by news agency Associated Press, revealed that a single controller was managing both helicopter traffic and the arrival of planes at Reagan National at the time of the crash—a role that is typically divided between two controllers.

The decision to combine these positions earlier than usual was made by the tower supervisor. While this configuration is standard practice during periods of low air traffic, an anonymous source familiar with the matter noted that the decision was made ahead of schedule that night.

President Donald Trump, speaking at a White House news conference, criticized the FAA’s handling of the incident, even as federal investigators cautioned that the exact cause remains unknown. Trump also used the opportunity to launch a broader political attack, blaming diversity hiring policies at the FAA for what he called “slipping standards.”

Investigators search for answers

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has begun its investigation, retrieving the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder from the wreckage of the Bombardier CRJ700. Both devices are being analyzed at the NTSB’s lab.

According to data from the jet’s transponder, the aircraft was flying at 400 feet, preparing to land at a speed of 140 mph when it suddenly lost altitude moments before the collision. Flight logs also indicate that controllers had redirected the jetliner to a shorter runway just minutes before the crash.

The NTSB has confirmed that an air traffic controller asked the helicopter crew whether they had the arriving jetliner in sight. The helicopter crew responded affirmatively and requested “visual separation,” meaning they could fly closer than normal since they had the other aircraft in view. The two aircraft collided seconds later.

An hour of anguish

President Trump opened Thursday’s news conference with a moment of silence for the crash victims, calling it an “hour of anguish” for the nation. Throughout the day, at Reagan National Airport, a subdued atmosphere pervaded as passengers awaited the resumption of flights. Many stared out at the Potomac River, where the wreckage of the plane was partially visible in the distance.

“I’ve been crying since yesterday,” said Aster Andemicael, who had been waiting for a flight to Indiana with her father when the crash occurred. “This is devastating.”

Deadliest US air disaster since 2001

Wednesday’s tragedy marks the deadliest plane crash in the United States since November 2001, when an American Airlines flight crashed into a residential neighborhood in Queens, New York, killing all 260 people aboard.

Although aviation experts are quick to highlight that flying remains one of the safest forms of travel, Wednesday’s crash is a grim reminder of the dangers present in even the most controlled environments, such as the airspace surrounding Washington DC.

Just over a day before the collision, another regional jetliner had to abort its landing at Reagan National due to the proximity of a military helicopter. That aircraft circled and landed safely minutes later.