A devastating mid-air collision occurred Wednesday night near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, involving an American Airlines passenger jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter.
The passenger plane, carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, was on its final approach to the airport when it collided with the military helicopter, which had three soldiers on board. Both aircraft plummeted into the Potomac River upon impact.
As of 2:50 a.m. Thursday, rescue teams have recovered at least 19 bodies from the crash site. Search and rescue operations are ongoing, with multiple agencies collaborating to locate any additional survivors and recover the remaining victims. The identities of those involved have not yet been released, pending notification of next of kin.
Eyewitnesses reported that the collision occurred just a few hundred feet above the ground, causing debris to scatter across the river and its banks. Emergency responders faced challenging conditions due to the river’s current and debris field.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched a full investigation into the incident. Preliminary reports suggest that both aircraft were operating under standard procedures, but the exact cause of the collision remains undetermined. Investigators will examine flight data recorders, air traffic control communications, and other pertinent information to determine the sequence of events that led to this tragedy.
This incident is a stark reminder of the 1982 Air Florida Flight 90 disaster, where a Boeing 737 crashed into the 14th Street Bridge and plunged into the Potomac River shortly after takeoff from the same airport, resulting in 78 fatalities.
Authorities are urging anyone who may have witnessed the collision or has relevant information to come forward to assist in the investigation. Counseling services are being offered to the families of the victims and to witnesses affected by the tragedy.
