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A helicopter flies over the Potomac River Alamy Stock Photo

What we know about the Washington DC aircraft collision

The jet was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members.

LAST UPDATE | 30 Jan

A PASSENGER PLANE collided with a US military Black Hawk helicopter in mid-air as it was attempting to land at Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington DC in the early hours of this morning. 

The jet was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members while there were three soldiers onboard the helicopter. Both aircraft landed in the Potomac River, where a search and rescue mission was launched. 

The Journal / YouTube

Both aircraft ended up in the Potomac River, where a search and rescue operation was launched in what the local fire and emergency department said were “extremely rough” conditions.

Here’s what we know so far:

9pm local time (2am Irish time): The District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department posted on social media saying: “Confirmed small aircraft down in Potomac River vicinity Reagan National Airport. Fireboats on scene.”

A few minutes later, Ronald Reagan National Airport announced a halt to all takeoffs and landings. 

10pm: The Federal Aviation Authority then released a statement that said the jet had collided with the helicopter while on approach to a runway at the airport, adding that it departed from Wichita, Kansas.

10:50pm: CBS reported that three US Army soldiers were onboard the Black Hawk helicopter, citing a military official. 

11pm: American Airlines confirmed that American Eagle Flight 5342, operated by regional airline PSA, was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members. 

11:30pm: The Pentagon released a statement saying that the helicopter, which was on a training exercise, was based in Fort Belvoir in Virginia.

11:55pm: Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser held a press conference in which she described the event as “very tragic” and said emergency services were “working diligently”. 

12:01am: Police officials told CBS News that 18 bodies had been recovered by search crews and that no survivors had been found at that point.

01:19am: Washington DC’s emergency chief John Donnelly described the difficult conditions, saying: “There is wind. There are pieces of ice in the water… And because there is not a lot of light, you are out there searching every square inch of space.”

1:45am: US President Donald Trump said he had been “fully briefed” and then criticised the airport’s air traffic control in a post on social media. 

“The airplane was on a perfect and routine line of approach to the airport,” Trump wrote.

“The helicopter was going straight at the airplane for an extended period of time. It is a CLEAR NIGHT, the lights on the plane were blazing.

“Why didn’t the helicopter go up or down, or turn. Why didn’t the control tower tell the helicopter what to do instead of asking if they saw the plane.

“This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented. NOT GOOD!!!”

2:54am: CBS reported that a 19th body had been recovered. 

2:56am: US Figure Skating, the governing body for the sport, confirmed in a statement that several members of its skating community were on board the flight, describing the crach as an “unspeakable tragedy”. 

“These athletes, coaches, and family members were returning home from the National Development Camp held in conjunction with the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas,” the statement read.

3:20am: Russian media reported that two Russian figure skaters were also on board the flight. A Kremlin spokesperson has since confirmed the reports.  

 

7:30am: Washington DC fire chief John Donnelly announced that “we don’t believe there are any survivors”, and said the search was being switched to a recovery operation. 

Donnelly also said that 27 bodies had been recovered from the plane and one body had been recovered from the helicopter. 

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    Mute Stanley Marsh
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    Jan 30th 2025, 10:55 AM

    Just for those who go straight to the comments section…

    “The airplane was on a perfect and routine line of approach to the airport,” Trump wrote.

    “The helicopter was going straight at the airplane for an extended period of time. It is a CLEAR NIGHT, the lights on the plane were blazing.

    “Why didn’t the helicopter go up or down, or turn. Why didn’t the control tower tell the helicopter what to do instead of asking if they saw the plane.

    “This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented. NOT GOOD!!!”

    Maybe the Big Orange Baby should leave these things to those with the expertise to investigate them.

    Surprised he hasn’t tried to blame Biden.

    68
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    Mute Tricia G28
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    Jan 30th 2025, 10:57 AM

    @Stanley Marsh: So he’s basically hung the crew of the helicopter out to dry before there has been a single investigation.

    I am not exactly surprised.

    Maybe the helicopter was at fault, maybe he’s even right but that’s not the point, he does not and cannot have all the facts yet.

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    Mute Ger Whelan
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    Jan 30th 2025, 11:42 AM

    @Stanley Marsh: Who cares what Trump wrote. People have died. You’re as bad as Trump playing the blame game with no information. Get a life

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    Mute Ger Whelan
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    Jan 30th 2025, 11:44 AM

    @Tricia G28: he has a lot more facts about than anyone on the journal comments section. But that hasn’t stopped people here has it?. Your all so overly infatuated with Trump is not even funny anymore.

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    Mute Stanley Marsh
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    Jan 30th 2025, 12:25 PM

    @Ger Whelan: I’d imagine many people care because he’s supposed to be the POTUS.

    Hanging the crew of the military helicopter and the ATC out to dry within hours of the accident is hardly very presidential.

    Imagine how the families of those involved feel because their president certainly doesn’t seem to be able to.

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    Mute Ger Whelan
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    Jan 30th 2025, 12:39 PM

    @Stanley Marsh: Is he your POTUS? No he’s not so why do you care what he thinks. You’re no better than him in this situation. The only difference is he has a lot more information about what happened than you have .

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    Mute Derek Elliott
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    Jan 30th 2025, 1:35 PM

    @Tricia G28: He’s also blaming the control tower. He just loves the blame game. My father taught me early on “Engage brain before putting mouth in gear” Mr Trump could benefit from that same advice.

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    Mute Stanley Marsh
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    Jan 30th 2025, 1:47 PM

    @Ger Whelan:

    1 Do you know what POTUS stands for?

    2 What makes you think that at this stage he has any more info than the rest of us or even if he had that he’d be capable of processing it?

    Remember that in his last term he was known for sitting in his office watching the same news channels as the rest of us.

    13
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    Mute S Suilleabhain
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    Jan 30th 2025, 9:36 PM

    @Ger Whelan: maybe because in this instance as the president of the country, he shouldn’t be libelling any party or engaging in his typical crap divisive rhetoric which is the real reason why you’re here? The hypocrisy around ‘what people should say,’ especially about supposedly more authoritarian leaders is just laughable. As the president he needs to stay quiet and not bark back like as if he is ACTUALLY his big bud Elon musk with the AI face …

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    Mute John O Reilly
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    Jan 30th 2025, 11:52 PM

    @Stanley Marsh: he did actually blame Biden

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    Mute Jef Gert
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    Jan 30th 2025, 10:15 AM

    Democrats trying to play politics on this is revolting.

    May God give peace to all the departed souls

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    Mute Dermot Blaine
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    Jan 30th 2025, 10:49 AM

    @Jef Gert: go away Harry

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    Mute Hotirish
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    Jan 30th 2025, 11:01 AM

    @Jef Gert: what are you on about??

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    Mute Niall Lappin
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    Jan 30th 2025, 11:26 AM

    @Jef Gert: just like Donnie’s crew played politics over the LA wild fires. One rule for me another for thee eh

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    Mute S Suilleabhain
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    Jan 30th 2025, 9:39 PM

    @Niall Lappin: secretly those who badger everyone with daily ‘haha in your face, woke!’ BS can’t hear a word of criticism about the likes of Orban And Trump. like Ger and this one Munster man who writes horrible replies to anyone RIGHTLY calling out FFG fraud / destroyed hospitals / tax squandering

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    Mute thomas molloy
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    Jan 30th 2025, 12:35 PM

    RIP.

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    Mute Jack Schitte
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    Jan 31st 2025, 8:28 AM

    @thomas molloy: R.I.P to all the victims of this accident.

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    Mute J B
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    Jan 30th 2025, 3:53 PM

    Airplane had primary priority. It’s helicopter at fault. Aviation expert on this morning stated at any airport plane takes priority to land or take off.

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    Mute Stanley Marsh
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    Jan 30th 2025, 4:17 PM

    @J B: Looking at the footage I don’t think priority comes in to the root cause.

    Neither aircraft seems to take any avasive action so I’d guess that neither of them were aware of each other.

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    Mute Mark Reville
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    Jan 30th 2025, 7:33 PM

    Helicopters are dangerous anyway and privately, not military, operated ones are often “piloted” by people with no qualifications, expertise and relevant training. I think the results of the inquiry will be a vindication of Trump’s comments.

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    Mute TheGood Feign
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    Jan 30th 2025, 11:20 PM

    @Mark Reville: holy moly, you really know nothing about helicopter pilots. It’s a highly, highly skilled job. You were probably looking for a trigger but I was concerned with your lack of education on the subject. Hope you’re ok.

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