A mid-air collision between an American Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Washington, D.C., has left 67 people feared dead. The accident, which occurred at approximately 9 p.m. local time on January 29, saw the aircraft crash into the icy Potomac River. So far, 19 bodies have been recovered, and the incident is being described as the deadliest U.S. aviation disaster since 2009.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation, stating that preliminary findings suggest both aircraft were approaching Ronald Reagan National Airport when the collision occurred. Over 300 emergency personnel responded to the scene, but recovery efforts have been challenging due to freezing temperatures and strong currents. DC Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly explained, “The water that we’re operating in is about 8ft deep. There is wind, there is pieces of ice out there. So it’s just dangerous and hard to work in.”
Eyewitnesses reported seeing what looked like a “white flare” in the sky at the moment of impact. Ari Schulman, who saw the collision from a nearby park, told NBC News, “It looked to me like a giant Roman candle, sparks shooting from the head of the plane down to the tail.” Another witness, Jimmy Mazeo, described the chaotic scene, saying, “We saw the fire trucks, the police cars, and police boats all rushing out. It was insane.”
President Donald Trump reacted to the tragedy on Truth Social, calling it “a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented. NOT GOOD!!!” Officials continue to investigate the cause of the crash while search teams work to recover more victims from the river.
