Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser confirmed that both the American Airlines aircraft and the military helicopter involved in Wednesday night’s mid-air collision have been found in the Potomac River. A total of 64 people were aboard the American Airlines flight, while three soldiers were on the military helicopter. Bowser said rescue operations were in progress, with the fire department and EMS teams, supported by emergency responders from across the Washington metropolitan area, working tirelessly in challenging conditions to retrieve the victims.
At a press conference, Bowser explained, “The focus now is rescuing people, and that’s what all of our personnel are focused on.” She noted the harsh conditions rescuers were facing, describing the scene as “dark and cold.” The Mayor provided updates on the efforts, emphasizing the dedication of the teams involved.
DC’s Fire and EMS Chief, John A. Donnelly Sr., added that the search and recovery efforts are extremely difficult. He noted that the water in the Potomac is about 8 feet deep, murky, and dangerous, with pieces of ice complicating the situation. “The river is a large black spot at night with no lights on it, except for a few buoy lights,” Donnelly said. He also acknowledged that recovery operations may take several days due to these hazardous conditions.
As of the press conference, approximately 300 responders were on-site, continuing their search in the river. Donnelly mentioned that the first responders arrived at 8:58 p.m., shortly after an alert was issued at 8:48 p.m., and began working immediately in the challenging conditions.
Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority President and COO, Jack Potter, confirmed that Reagan National Airport would remain closed until at least 11 a.m. ET Thursday, though operations at Dulles International Airport were unaffected.
The tragic collision occurred around 9 p.m. local time when a PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet, operating as American Eagle Flight 5342, collided with a Sikorsky H-60 Black Hawk helicopter, which had three soldiers aboard. Both aircraft crashed while attempting to land at Reagan National Airport.
So far, 18 bodies have been recovered, but no survivors have been found. Emergency teams continue to search the area. The FAA confirmed the details of the crash, and authorities are working to understand the cause of the collision.
The crash has led to the grounding of all flights at Reagan National Airport, with the emergency response teams focused on recovery efforts. The situation remains fluid, and further updates will be provided as the investigation continues.
