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A tragic mid-air collision near Washington, D.C., has left at least 30 people dead after an American Airlines flight carrying 64 people crashed into the Potomac River. The crash occurred around 9 p.m. Wednesday when the plane, arriving from Wichita, Kansas, collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Ronald Reagan National Airport. No survivors have been found so far, and recovery efforts have been hindered by freezing temperatures, strong winds, and darkness.
Witnesses reported seeing sparks and flashes as the aircraft collided. The impact split the passenger plane in half before it plunged into the river. A massive emergency response was launched immediately, with over 300 personnel deployed to search for survivors. Crews are battling ice-cold waters and low visibility, making the operation even more challenging.
“There is wind, there are pieces of ice in the water, and because it’s dark, we’re searching every square inch,” said Washington’s emergency chief, John Donnelly.
The Black Hawk helicopter, carrying three U.S. Army soldiers, was on a training flight from Fort Belvoir, Virginia, at the time of the crash. The Pentagon has confirmed its involvement in the investigation.
Among the passengers were multiple figure skaters from both the U.S. and Russia, including former world champions Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova. The two, who had been living in the U.S. for years as coaches, were returning with other skaters, their families, and coaches from a training event.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched investigations into how such a disaster could occur in one of the most tightly controlled airspaces in the world.
BBC analysts noted that Washington, D.C.’s airspace is particularly congested due to its proximity to the Pentagon, the White House, and multiple airports.
Aviation experts say that both the plane and the helicopter would have been using collision avoidance systems, but these systems can be ineffective below 700 feet—around the altitude where the crash happened.
Flights at Ronald Reagan National Airport have been suspended, with air traffic redirected to Dulles International Airport. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has promised a full review of the incident and potential changes to flight paths near the airport.
Former President Donald Trump commented on the crash via Truth Social, stating, “This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented. NOT GOOD!!!”
Meanwhile, American Airlines CEO Robert Isom expressed “deep sorrow” over the tragedy and confirmed that the airline had dispatched a team to Washington.
While investigators work to determine what caused the collision, recovery teams continue their difficult mission in the freezing Potomac River. The search for victims is expected to continue through the coming days as authorities piece together how a tragic accident like this could have happened in one of the world’s most monitored airspaces.
*With information from the BBC
