67 people feared dead as American Airlines plane, army helicopter collide near Washington

vesnaUSA News

US officials have indicated that they do not anticipate discovering any survivors following a mid-air collision near Washington, D.C., and have transitioned to a recovery operation as they continue to search the Potomac River.

A passenger aircraft with 64 individuals on board crashed into the river after colliding with a U.S. Army helicopter on Wednesday evening.

At the time of the incident, three U.S. Army personnel were aboard the Black Hawk helicopter.

An official reported that recovery teams have retrieved 27 bodies from the passenger plane and one from the helicopter. A law enforcement source had previously informed CBS, a partner of the BBC in the U.S., that the number of bodies recovered was as high as 30.

The American Airlines flight, which originated from Wichita, Kansas, was approaching Ronald Reagan National Airport at approximately 21:00 local time (02:00 GMT) on Wednesday when the two aircraft collided.

Among the passengers on the plane were figure skaters from the United States. Additionally, Russian authorities have confirmed that some of their citizens were also on board.

According to a statement from U.S. Figure Skating, the governing body for the sport in America, several “athletes, coaches, and family members” were returning from a development camp.

Russian media reported that the individuals on the flight included former world champions Vadim Naumov, 55, and Evgenia Shishkova, 52, who are also a married couple.

The Pentagon confirmed that the helicopter, a Sikorsky H-60, had taken off from Fort Belvoir in Virginia.

An official stated that the helicopter was engaged in a training flight and was part of B Company, 12th Aviation Battalion, based at Fort Belvoir.

Numerous federal and local agencies are participating in the search efforts.

At the crash site, the BBC observed debris believed to be from the aircraft floating in the Potomac River. Reports from U.S. media indicate that the aircraft split in two upon impact with the water.

BBC Verify has confirmed that both the plane and the helicopter were transmitting data regarding their flight paths and altitudes prior to the collision.

They would have utilized an onboard Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) to identify nearby flights; however, Doug Rice, a retired American Airlines pilot, informed NBC that these systems may not have functioned as intended.

US President Donald Trump stated that he had received a comprehensive briefing regarding the unfortunate incident.

“I extend my gratitude for the remarkable efforts of our first responders. I am closely monitoring the situation and will share further information as it becomes available,” he remarked in a statement.

He also raised concerns about the circumstances surrounding the event, posting on TruthSocial that it “should have been avoided. NOT GOOD!!!”

Operations for takeoffs and landings have been suspended at Washington National Airport as emergency services respond to the situation, as noted in a post on X.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, whose appointment was recently confirmed, indicated that “a review of the events that transpired this evening will take place.”

He mentioned that the government would implement “appropriate measures if deemed necessary” to modify flight routes near Ronald Reagan Airport. Flights have been redirected to Dulles International Airport, located approximately 28 miles (45 km) away.

Federal aviation authorities and the US Congress have initiated investigations into the occurrence.

American Airlines CEO Robert Isom conveyed his “deep sorrow” and announced that the airline has dispatched a team to Washington, D.C., and that he will also be traveling there.