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Officials Believe No Survivors in Washington, D.C. Midair Crash

Officials believe there are no survivors after a passenger jet and a Black Hawk helicopter collided midair on Wednesday, leading both to crash into the Potomac River near Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C.

The aircraft, American Eagle Flight No. 5342—a regional jet—was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, as reported by CBS News. The Sikorsky H-60 helicopter had three soldiers on board, according to a Defense Department official.

John Donnelly, Chief of the District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services, informed the press on Thursday morning that 27 bodies were retrieved from the airplane and one from the helicopter.

Chief Donnelly stated that he believed there were no survivors, noting that operations at the scene had transitioned from rescue to recovery.

The FAA reported that American Eagle Flight No. 5242, operated by PSA Airlines, collided with the Sikorsky H-60 helicopter around 9 p.m. on Wednesday as it was nearing the runway at Reagan National Airport after departing from Wichita, Kansas.

American Eagle and PSA Airlines operate under the umbrella of American Airlines.

The helicopter engaged in the collision was conducting a training mission and was part of B Company, 12th Aviation Battalion, stationed at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, according to Heather Chairez, the media chief for the Joint Task Force-National Capital Region.

A live-streaming camera at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., captured the moment of the collision, showing an explosion near the Potomac River at 8:47 p.m. Eastern Time.

During a Thursday morning news briefing, Chief Donnelly reiterated that 27 bodies had been recovered from the airplane and one from the helicopter, emphasizing the absence of survivors and noting that the focus had shifted from rescue to recovery efforts.

“It’s a highly complex operation; the conditions out there are extremely rough for the responders. It’s cold. They’re dealing with relatively windy conditions,” Donnelly said.

CBS News’ senior transportation and national correspondent Kris Van Cleave reported findings of human remains and debris on the Virginia side of the Potomac River. He noted that the aircraft fragmented into several pieces submerged in 5-8 feet of water.

A dive team discovered what is believed to be one of the aircraft’s two data recorders, although it was unclear if it was the cockpit voice recorder or the flight data recorder.

Divers gained some access to the aircraft’s cabin and retrieved items including luggage.

The helicopter was found mostly intact but upside down, added Van Cleave.

Politicians React to the Crash

President Trump stated that he was fully informed about the crash and expressed his condolences, praising the first responders and promising ongoing updates.

In a post on Truth Social, he speculated on the preventability of the crash, stating, “This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented. NOT GOOD!!!”

Newly appointed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth indicated on social media that the Pentagon was closely monitoring the situation and ready to provide assistance if necessary.

Kansas Senator Roger Marshall said in a statement, “Tonight, we received devastating news of what can only be described as nothing short of a nightmare… My prayer is that God wraps his arms around each and every victim, and that he continues to be with their families.”

Alyia Gaskins, Mayor of Alexandria, Virginia, expressed her community’s shock and sadness on social media, mentioning the local emergency services’ involvement in the response efforts. Alexandria is located just south of Reagan Washington National Airport.

This crash is the first major U.S. commercial crash in nearly 16 years.

The last significant U.S. commercial airline disaster happened in February 2009 when a Continental Airlines flight operated by Colgan Air struck a house during its approach to Buffalo, New York, resulting in 49 fatalities. Continental later merged with United Airlines in 2010.

The most recent major incident involving American Airlines was in November 2001, when Flight No. 587, an Airbus A300, crashed shortly after departure from John F. Kennedy International Airport, killing 265 people.

The flight was headed to Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic and crashed in the Belle Harbor neighborhood of Queens, New York.