Midair collision near D.C. kills 67; Questions mount over preventable tragedy
By isabelle // 2025-01-30
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  • American Airlines regional jet and U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter collided over Potomac River, killing all 67 aboard.
  • Crash occurred minutes before the jet was to land at Reagan National Airport.
  • Among the victims were figure skaters, coaches, and former world champions returning from a development camp.
  • Rescue efforts shifted to recovery, with 28 bodies found by midday.
  • Debate arises over the preventability of the crash, with investigations focusing on air traffic control and military-civilian flight coordination.
In a devastating midair collision near Washington, D.C., an American Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter crashed into the Potomac River on Wednesday night, killing all 67 people aboard both aircraft. The crash, which occurred just minutes before the jet was set to land at Reagan National Airport, has left the nation in shock and raised urgent questions about air traffic control protocols and military training flights in one of the busiest airspaces in the country. The American Eagle Flight 5342, operated by PSA Airlines, was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, including a group of figure skaters, coaches, and family members returning from a development camp in Wichita, Kansas. Among the passengers were Russian-born former world champion figure skaters Yevgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, who were coaching young skaters. The Black Hawk helicopter, on a routine training mission, had three soldiers aboard.

Rescue efforts turn to recovery

As dawn broke Thursday, more than 300 first responders, including Coast Guard crews and local emergency teams, combed the frigid waters of the Potomac River for wreckage and victims. By midday, 28 bodies had been recovered, but officials confirmed there are unlikely to be any survivors. The crash site, just south of Reagan National Airport, presented grueling conditions for rescuers. The water temperature hovered just above freezing, and the wreckage of the jet was found in three sections, upside down in waist-deep water. The helicopter’s remains were also located nearby.

A preventable tragedy?

The collision has sparked a fierce debate over whether the disaster could have been avoided. Air traffic control recordings reveal that controllers instructed the helicopter, call sign PAT25, to pass behind the jet just seconds before the crash. The helicopter crew acknowledged the instruction, but the collision occurred moments later. President Donald Trump, in a post on Truth Social, questioned the actions of both the helicopter crew and air traffic controllers. “This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented. NOT GOOD!!!” he wrote. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy echoed the sentiment, stating, “Do I think this was preventable? Absolutely.” However, he emphasized that both aircraft were following standard flight patterns and that communication between air traffic control and the pilots appeared normal. Midair collisions involving commercial aircraft are exceedingly rare in the U.S., where airspace is tightly regulated. The last major commercial airliner crash occurred in 2009, when Colgan Air Flight 3407 crashed near Buffalo, New York, killing 50 people. The crash has also dealt a devastating blow to the figure skating community. U.S. Figure Skating confirmed that several members of its community were aboard the flight, including young skaters and their families. "We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts,” the organization said in a statement.

Investigation underway

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched a full investigation into the crash, with a focus on air traffic control communications and the coordination between military and civilian aircraft in the congested D.C. airspace. The Pentagon has paused flights for the Army unit involved in the collision. As the nation mourns, questions linger about how such a tragedy could occur in one of the most monitored airspaces in the world. For now, the focus remains on recovering the victims and supporting their grieving families.   Sources for this article include: Reuters.com FoxNews.com APNews.com
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