A mid-air collision between an American Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Washington, D.C., on Wednesday left over 30 bodies recovered from the Potomac River, “ND TV World” said.
The crash, which occurred near Reagan National Airport, involved Flight 5342 carrying 60 passengers and four crew members from Wichita, Kansas, and a helicopter with three soldiers on board. No survivors have been found so far.
The fatal crash happened shortly before 9 p.m. EST as the plane attempted to land. Witnesses reported a bright explosion in the sky, captured by a camera at the Kennedy Center. Both aircrafts fell into the Potomac River, prompting a massive search-and-rescue operation. Authorities later shifted focus to recovery efforts.
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom confirmed the incident to Al Jazeera but stated the cause remains unclear. “At this time, we don’t know why the military aircraft came into the path of the PSA aircraft,” he said during a news conference with Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser.
Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy called the crash “preventable,” denying any communication breakdown. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched investigations.
Reagan National Airport halted all takeoffs and landings following the collision. Kansas Governor Laura Kelly and members of the state’s congressional delegation expressed condolences and pledged support for victims and first responders.
American Airlines urged families seeking information to call a dedicated hotline. The incident has raised questions about airspace coordination and safety protocols near one of the nation’s busiest airports.
As recovery efforts continue, the crash marks one of the deadliest aviation incidents in the region in recent years. Authorities expect the investigation to take months, with updates provided as more information becomes available.