By Joke Kujenya
EMERGENCY CREWS continued recovery operations in the Potomac River after an American Airlines regional jet carrying 64 people collided mid-air with a United States Army Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport.
The crash, which occurred on Wednesday, has now resulted in confirmed fatalities, though officials have yet to release a final death toll.
US Air authorities said they have retrieved multiple bodies from the icy waters, while investigations into the cause of the collision remain ongoing.
One US Army official said the helicopter was carrying three soldiers, and their status remains unknown.
Although there is no confirmed information on total casualties, the Washington Post reported that police had started pulling multiple bodies from the frigid waters.
According to a CBS report, at least 18 bodies have been recovered.
American Airlines acknowledged the incident involving American Eagle Flight 5342, operated by PSA, which had been en-route from Wichita, Kansas, to Washington Reagan National Airport.
The airline stated on social media that it would provide further updates as information became available.
The midair collision occurred as the passenger jet approached Reagan for landing.
Radio communications between the air traffic control tower and the Black Hawk indicated that the helicopter crew was aware of the plane’s presence in the vicinity.
The Pentagon has launched an investigation into the collision.
Russian world figure skating champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were reportedly among the passengers on board the ill-fated flight, according to Russian media outlet RT.
Officials have yet to provide a final death toll, but U.S. Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas, where the flight originated, suggested that most, if not all, passengers had perished.
“It’s really hard when you lose probably over 60 Kansans simultaneously,” Marshall said at a press conference at Reagan airport early Thursday.
“When one person dies, it’s a tragedy, but when many, many, many people die, it’s an unbearable sorrow. It’s a heartbreak beyond measure.”
The national U.S. figure skating body confirmed that several members of the skating community were on board the crashed jet, returning from the National Development Camp held in conjunction with the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas.
“These athletes, coaches, and family members were returning home from the National Development Camp,” U.S. Figure Skating said in a statement. “We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts.”
Washington, D.C.’s Fire Chief John A. Donnelly Sr. said ongoing search-and-rescue efforts in the river were facing significant challenges due to dangerous conditions.
“The challenges are access. The water that we’re operating in is about eight feet deep, there is wind, and there are pieces of ice out there. It’s just dangerous and hard to work in,” Donnelly said, according to a CNN report.
A web camera shot from the Kennedy Center in Washington showed an explosion mid-air across the Potomac around 8:47 p.m. (0147 GMT), with an aircraft engulfed in flames plummeting rapidly.
PSA was operating Flight 5342 for American Airlines, according to the FAA.
“We’re cooperating with the National Transportation Safety Board in its investigation and will continue to provide all the information we can,” American Airlines CEO Robert Isom said in a video statement.
Dozens of emergency personnel, including police, ambulance crews, and rescue teams, staged along the river and at Reagan airport. Live TV footage showed several boats flashing red and blue lights in the water as rescue operations continued.
At least 18 bodies have reportedly been recovered from the Potomac River following the collision. High winds, low night-time visibility, freezing temperatures, and murky water have made recovery efforts extremely challenging, Washington Fire Chief Donnelly told reporters at Reagan National Airport.
Meanwhile, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed via X (formerly Twitter) that the Pentagon and the Army had launched an immediate investigation into the crash.
“Absolutely tragic. Search and rescue efforts still ongoing. Prayers for all impacted souls, and their families,” Hegseth wrote.
