At least 30 people have been confirmed dead following a mid-air collision between a passenger plane and a US Army helicopter near Washington DC, according to CBS News. The collision caused the plane, carrying 64 passengers and crew, to crash into the Potomac River.
Among those on board were figure skaters from the US, and Russia confirmed that some of its citizens were also involved.
Search and rescue teams have been working overnight in freezing conditions to recover the victims. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport has temporarily closed as authorities investigate the incident.
What happened?
Around 9:00 PM local time (02:00 GMT) on Wednesday, a PSA Airlines jet operating as American Airlines 5342 collided with a US Army Sikorsky H-60 helicopter as it was approaching Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The plane, a Bombardier CRJ700, broke into multiple pieces before sinking several feet into the river, while the helicopter ended up upside down in the water.
The plane had departed from Wichita, Kansas, carrying 60 passengers and four crew members. The helicopter, which was conducting a training flight from Fort Belvoir, Virginia, was carrying three US soldiers, Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser confirmed.
A clip published online purportedly captures air traffic control warnings to the helicopter, though the audio remains unverified. The FAA, alongside the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), is investigating the cause of the collision.
How many people were involved?
A law enforcement officer said that at least 30 bodies have been recovered from the scene, though authorities have not confirmed the number, as their efforts remain focused on the ongoing rescue operation.
US Figure Skating confirmed that several members of its community, including athletes, coaches, and family members returning from a development camp in Kansas, were aboard the plane.
Additionally, the Kremlin confirmed that Russian citizens, including ice skating coaches and former world champions Yevgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, were on board.
Approximately 300 first responders, operating rubber boats in challenging conditions, have been deployed to search for survivors. Washington DC Fire and Emergency Services Chief John Donnelly described the situation as dangerous, citing wind, ice, and difficult access to the site.
What are eyewitnesses saying?
Ari Schulman, an eyewitness, told NBC Washington that he saw the plane crash while driving on the George Washington Parkway.
He reported that the aircraft’s approach appeared normal until it sharply banked to the right, with “streams of sparks” illuminating its belly. “It looked very, very wrong,” Schulman said, describing the sparks as resembling a “giant roman candle.”
Another witness, Jimmy Mazeo, recalled seeing what looked like a “white flare” in the sky while having dinner at a park near the airport.
He noted that planes appeared to be flying in "irregular patterns" before the crash, but did not think much of it until emergency services arrived.
What are US officials saying?
President Donald Trump issued a statement expressing his sorrow over the “terrible accident” and said he was monitoring the situation closely.
“May God bless their souls,” he said, thanking first responders for their efforts. Trump also raised concerns about the incident’s preventability, writing on TruthSocial, “This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented.”
Vice-President JD Vance and other officials, including Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, also expressed their condolences and pledged to monitor the situation. Duffy confirmed that a review of flight paths near the airport would take place.
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom shared his “deep sorrow” in a video posted on the airline’s website, a sentiment echoed by US Senator Roger Marshall, whose home state of Kansas was the plane’s point of origin.
What’s the US’ air safety record?
Incidents of this magnitude are rare in the US. The last comparable crash occurred in 2009 when an aircraft crashed on approach to Buffalo, New York, killing all 49 people on board and one person on the ground.
The airspace above Washington DC is both busy and heavily controlled, handling a large volume of domestic and international flights, along with additional military and presidential traffic.
While civilian airliners must follow fixed flight plans, military pilots are required to “see and avoid” other aircraft, providing them with some latitude to deviate from air traffic control instructions.
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