Dozens Feared Dead After Plane and U.S. Military Helicopter Collide and Crash into River
Several people remain missing after a tragic collision between an American Airlines regional passenger jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter, which plunged into the frigid waters of the Potomac River late Wednesday evening. The crash occurred near Reagan Washington National Airport, sparking fears that the majority of those on board may have perished.
The American Airlines flight, which was traveling from Wichita, Kansas, was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members when it collided with the Black Hawk, a U.S. military helicopter on a training flight with three soldiers aboard. The collision occurred as the jet was in the process of landing at Reagan National. While officials have yet to provide an official death toll, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall from Kansas, where the flight had originated, suggested that most, if not all, of the passengers on the plane had likely been killed.
“It’s really hard when you lose probably over 60 Kansans simultaneously,” Senator Marshall said during a press conference early Thursday. “When one person dies, it’s a tragedy, but when many, many, many people die, it’s an unbearable sorrow. It’s a heartbreak beyond measure.”
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Initial reports indicated that at least 18 bodies have been recovered from the Potomac River, and a dive team managed to retrieve one of the two black boxes from the wreckage. CBS News, citing a police official, confirmed the recovery of multiple bodies, while two sources informed Reuters that more bodies were being pulled from the water.
In the wake of the tragedy, President Donald Trump expressed concerns over the situation. “This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented. NOT GOOD!!!” he posted on Truth Social. He also questioned the actions of both the helicopter crew and air traffic controllers, describing the night as clear, which he argued should have provided clear visibility for all involved.
Rescue operations are ongoing, with over 300 first responders working in the challenging conditions of cold and wind.
Washington D.C. Fire Chief John Donnelly spoke of the difficult task ahead: “Conditions out there are extremely rough for the responders,” he said. “It’s cold. They’re dealing with windy conditions.”
Authorities are still uncertain whether there are any survivors, and concerns over hypothermia persist due to the frigid water temperatures. According to AccuWeather’s Senior Director of Forecast Operations, Dan DePodwin, “At these frigid water temperatures, the human body’s core temperature quickly drops. Exhaustion or unconsciousness can occur in as little as 15 to 30 minutes.”
The crash has also drawn attention for the presence of several notable figures on board the American Airlines flight. Among those were Russian former figure skating world champions Yevgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, who were returning from a training camp in Wichita. The Kremlin has since offered condolences to the families of the Russian nationals killed.
