No Survivors in Midair Crash Between Black Hawk Helicopter and American Airlines Jet Near Washington DC, Officials Confirm

WASHINGTON D.C. — Officials confirmed that no survivors are expected following a midair collision between an American Airlines passenger jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Washington, D.C., on Wednesday night. Emergency crews recovered 28 bodies from the Potomac River, and authorities have transitioned to a recovery operation.

The American Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 jet, Flight 5342, departed from Wichita, Kansas, carrying 64 passengers and crew. The U.S. Army helicopter, a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk, was on a training mission with three service members aboard when the two aircraft collided while approaching Ronald Reagan National Airport.

"We are shifting from a rescue to a recovery effort," said Washington, D.C., Fire Chief John Donnelly. "Given the severity of the impact and conditions, we do not expect survivors."

Among those on the plane were multiple members of the figure skating community returning from a developmental camp in Wichita. The Skating Club of Boston confirmed that six of the victims included 1994 world champion pair skaters Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov. The International Skating Union announced a moment of silence at the European Figure Skating Championships in Estonia in tribute to the victims.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation, with initial reports indicating that both aircraft were on standard flight paths at the time of the collision. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated that there was no breakdown in communication between the pilots and air traffic control before the crash.

American Airlines CEO Robert Isom emphasized that the airline's pilots were experienced, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that the Army helicopter crew was conducting an annual proficiency flight.

President Donald Trump addressed the nation from the White House, expressing condolences before criticizing previous Democratic administrations’ aviation policies. "We do not know what led to this crash, but we have some very strong opinions," Trump said. He later suggested that the Army helicopter may have been at fault, claiming it "was going at an angle that was unbelievably bad."

The crash presents one of the first major crises for the Trump administration, which recently appointed Chris Rocheleau as acting commissioner of the Federal Aviation Administration. The FAA currently lacks several key leadership positions following the transition between administrations.

Rep. Rick Larsen (D-WA), ranking member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, urged against premature speculation. "It never does any good to speculate on the causes of aviation accidents before we have the facts and details," he said.

Investigators from the NTSB, FAA, and the military are analyzing flight data and communications to determine the cause of the crash. The search and recovery efforts continue amid frigid conditions in the Potomac River, with authorities committed to retrieving all victims.

"We will not rest until we have answers for the families and the flying public," Secretary Duffy said.