Within just over a day of American Airlines Flight 5342 and a U.S. Army helicopter tragically colliding mid-air in the vicinity of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Washington D.C., President Donald Trump confirmed that no one survived this devastating incident.
Trump informed reporters, as reported by NBC News during a White House briefing on January 30th, that the focus of the operation has transitioned to a recovery effort since there were no individuals found alive.
On January 29th, an aircraft filled with 60 passengers and 4 crew members tragically plunged into the Potomac River after it struck a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter, carrying only 3 individuals. However, following an extensive rescue operation, the President shared his sorrow with the nation as he announced the grim news.
This evening was a deeply painful and heart-wrenching time, not just for our country’s capital, but for all of our nation. It was an event of immense sadness, leaving an indelible mark on our history as we mourn the sudden loss of every cherished life.
On board the airplane were American figure skaters, according to a statement from U.S. Figure Skating. Alongside them were their trainers and relatives, who happened to be attending a camp in Wichita, Kansas, which was the aircraft’s departure point.
They expressed deep sorrow over this unimaginable disaster, keeping the affected families in their thoughts. They vow to keep a close eye on the circumstances and provide further details as they become public knowledge.
Two-time Olympic medalist Nancy Kerrigan was deeply affected when she learned about the 1961 plane crash in Brussels that claimed the lives of 18 members of the national team, as it resonated particularly strongly with her due to its tragic impact on the sports community.
Just as others have expressed, I find it difficult to comprehend this situation, she explained to journalists while fighting back tears. “I apologize for my emotional state, which is why I’m standing before you now.
American Airlines’ flight was also carrying Russian figure skaters and coaches, including former world champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, as reported by various Russian media outlets.
In a daily press briefing, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov shared somber news from Washington. He expressed deep sorrow for the families and friends of the Russian citizens who perished in the airplane accident.
According to preliminary findings by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), as mentioned by NBC News, it appears that the accident may have been due to an unusual situation at the air traffic control tower in Reagan Washington National Airport. Instead of having two controllers managing helicopter and airplane traffic separately, only one controller was overseeing both. This could potentially be why Trump stated that the incident should not have occurred.
Senators Roger Marshall and Jerry Moran from Kansas are asking for explanations as they, alongside residents in both Kansas and Washington D.C., mourn the loss of fellow community members.
In a virtual press briefing on January 30th, Marshall expressed concern over an area of U.S. airspace that is particularly busy. The issue at hand involves a military helicopter and a civilian jet whose transponders fail to interact with one another. He finds it puzzling why they’re allowed in the same airspace if their systems can’t communicate, stating that this arrangement invites potential problems or failures.
Keep reading for everything we know about the American Airlines collision.
On January 29th evening, American Airlines flight 5342, bound for Washington, D.C. from Wichita, Kansas, experienced a collision with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter close to the Reagan Washington National Airport. The Federal Aviation Administration later confirmed this incident on their social media platform, previously known as Twitter. Both the passenger plane (with 60 passengers and 4 crew members) and the helicopter (carrying 3 people) subsequently crashed into the Potomac River.
A Bombardier CRJ-700 series twin-engine aircraft, manufactured in Canada, was flown by American Airlines’ affiliate airline, PSA Airlines.
Initially meant for rescue, the operation is now focused on recovery, as District of Columbia Fire Chief John Donnelly verified that 28 bodies have been retrieved from the river up to this point in time.
In my professional opinion, I must sadly share that at this juncture, I don’t hold hope for any individuals having made it through unscathed. Moving forward, our utmost priority is to locate every single body and facilitate a respectful reunion with the families who are awaiting closure.
In relation to the unfortunate event, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy revealed that the helicopter was following a routine flight path when it collided with the plane, and he confirmed that they were mindful of the aircraft’s presence nearby.
At the news conference, he clarified that last night, the helicopter was following a routine flight path, much like the frequent helicopter flights observed over the river if you reside in the Washington D.C. region.
60 individuals among the group consisted of American figure skaters, trainers, and their relatives, as per U.S. Figure Skating. They happened to be at a training camp in Wichita, Kansas.
The organizers announced that these athletes, coaches, and relatives were on their way home following a National Development Camp coordinated with the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, as reported by NBC News. The news of this unimaginable tragedy has left us deeply saddened, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to the affected families.
In 1995, the world-champion Russian figure skating pair, Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov (who later got married), were also aboard, as reported by Russian media sources.
Today, Dmitry Peskov, a spokesperson from the Kremlin, shared somber news coming out of Washington, as reported by NBC News. Our deepest sympathies go out to the families and friends who have lost loved ones in the tragic plane crash.
A gentleman was anxiously awaiting his wife, who had been aboard an American Airlines flight, at the international terminal.
He shared with CBS affiliate WUSA9, “I’m desperately hoping someone is rescuing her from the river at this moment. That’s the only thing I can hope for. All I can do is pray to God.
It was confirmed by Ron McLendon II, the Deputy Director of Public Affairs for Joint Task Force-National Capital Region/Military District of Washington, that the helicopter in question belonged to Bravo Company, stationed at the 12th Aviation Battalion based at Davison Army Airfield in Fort Belvoir, Virginia, and was reported to NBC News.
At the moment of the crash, it was revealed that the plane was engaged in a training exercise.
These three entities – the Federal Aviation Administration, the U.S. Army, and the National Transportation Safety Board – are currently probing the accident, with the National Transportation Safety Board playing a principal role in the investigation.
In the ongoing investigation, Jeff Guzzetti, a former investigator for both the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), stated to Today that the air traffic control communications from that night are under close examination by the NTSB. The controller involved will be interviewed, and the radar data will be thoroughly analyzed by the NTSB.
Currently, authorities are continuing their search at the crash site for the flight data recorders, which store details about the aircraft’s journey and performance, according to a source from the National Transportation Safety Board who spoke with NBC News.
President Donald J. Trump shared his condolences about the tragedy.
The White House has confirmed it’s been informed about the tragic incident happening at Ronald Reagan National Airport. May those affected rest in peace. Great job by our emergency responders, keep it up. I’m staying updated on the situation and will share further information as it becomes available.
It was confirmed that Ilia Malinin, the three-time consecutive U.S. men’s figure skating champion, was not on the flight he expressed concern about via Instagram Stories. He wrote, “I’m hoping and praying for the safety of everyone who was on that flight.
Wichita Mayor Lily Wu shared her sorrow during a news conference, stating that the city’s heart is feeling particularly weighty.
She expressed her sympathies, saying, “We share the sorrow of everyone affected.” She also noted that this unfortunate event will forge an eternal bond between the people in Washington, D.C., and those in Wichita, Kansas.
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2025-01-31 00:24