Washington, D.C. — A passenger jet carrying 64 people crashed into the Potomac River on Wednesday night after a midair collision with a military helicopter, triggering a large-scale search and rescue operation. U.S. media reported multiple bodies being recovered from the dark, near-freezing waters.
More than 300 emergency responders, including divers, worked through the night under harsh winter conditions to locate survivors and retrieve wreckage. Washington Fire Chief John Donnelly described the scene as “extremely rough,” offering little hope of finding anyone alive.
“We’re going to be out there as long as it takes,” Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser stated.
Citing local sources, CBS News reported that at least 18 bodies had been recovered, while NBC put the toll at more than a dozen.
Passengers Included Figure Skating Champions
U.S. Figure Skating confirmed that several athletes, coaches, and officials were aboard the flight. Russian officials later verified that former world pairs figure skating champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were among the passengers.
“We unfortunately see that these sad reports are being confirmed. Our other fellow citizens were there,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.
Collision Details and Eyewitness Accounts
The aircraft, a Bombardier regional jet operated by an American Airlines subsidiary, was approaching Reagan National Airport at approximately 9:00 p.m. (0200 GMT) following a flight from Wichita, Kansas.
The helicopter, a Black Hawk carrying three soldiers on a training mission, was involved in the collision, according to U.S. Army officials.
Eyewitness Ari Schulman described seeing a “stream of sparks” overhead.
“Initially, I saw the plane, and it looked fine, normal. It was right about to head over land,” he told CNN. “Three seconds later, it was banked all the way to the right… I could see the underside of it, it was lit up a very bright yellow, and there was a stream of sparks underneath. It looked like a Roman candle.”
Trump Criticizes Air Traffic Control
Former President Donald Trump issued a statement expressing condolences, saying, “May God bless their souls.” However, hours after the crash, he took to social media to criticize air traffic control.
“The airplane was on a perfect and routine line of approach to the airport. The helicopter was going straight at the airplane for an extended period of time,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “It is a CLEAR NIGHT, the lights on the plane were blazing. 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 saw the plane? This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented. NOT GOOD!!!”
Investigation and Flight Disruptions
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered all flights grounded at Reagan National Airport, which is expected to remain closed until at least 11:00 a.m. (1600 GMT) Thursday.
American Airlines’ chief executive expressed “deep sorrow” in a video statement, while U.S. Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas called the crash “nothing short of a nightmare.”
Aviation experts are questioning how a passenger plane equipped with modern collision-avoidance technology could collide with a military aircraft in Washington’s crowded airspace. The skies above the capital are frequently busy with both commercial and military aircraft operating in close proximity.
Historical Parallels
This incident echoes the 1982 Air Florida Flight 90 disaster, when a Boeing 737 crashed into the Potomac shortly after takeoff from Reagan National Airport, killing 78 people. Investigators attributed that crash to inadequate de-icing procedures.
The last major fatal U.S. air accident occurred in 2009, when Continental Flight 3407 crashed en route from New Jersey to Buffalo, New York, killing all 49 aboard.
Authorities have yet to determine the exact cause of Wednesday’s crash, with a full investigation underway.
