No Survivors In Deadly Washington, DC Air Crash

Photo: Reuters

WASHINGTON, DC (ANI)- A large-scale search operation is underway after a tragic mid-air collision between an American Airlines plane and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport outside Washington, DC, on January 29 night. The collision resulted in both aircraft crashing into the Potomac River.

Authorities confirmed fatalities, and as of early January 30, no survivors had been recovered from the river, according to law enforcement sources.

The aircraft involved were American Airlines Flight 5342, a regional jet with 60 passengers and four crew members on board, and a Black Hawk helicopter on a training mission carrying three soldiers. All three soldiers were confirmed dead. The wreckage from both aircraft was found submerged in the icy waters of the Potomac River.

“The plane is in pieces in the water, and the helicopter is in the water nearby,” said a law enforcement source.

The collision occurred at a time when the airport was busy, with 858 flights scheduled to take off and land at Reagan National Airport, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium. Following the incident, approximately 19 aircraft in the air at the time were diverted to nearby Dulles International Airport, about 20 miles away. The airport was closed, and all flights were grounded for the night.

DC Mayor Muriel Bowser confirmed that search efforts remain focused on recovering the victims, with personnel concentrating on the water. The National Transportation Safety Board will lead the crash investigation, though details remain scarce at this time.

DC Fire and EMS Chief John A. Donnelly Sr described the conditions as “dangerous” for rescue teams.

“The water is about 8 feet deep, with ice and murky visibility, making it very difficult to conduct rescue operations,” he said, warning that recovery efforts could take several days.

“The river is a large black spot at night with no lights, except for a few buoy lights,” he added.

The FBI’s Washington Field Office dive team, part of the Underwater Search and Evidence Response Team, is assisting in efforts to locate the victims. The team specializes in recovering submerged evidence and is providing critical support to ongoing operations.