Thu Jan 30 03:41:43 UTC 2025: ## Deadly Mid-Air Collision Over Potomac River Leaves No Survivors
**ARLINGTON, VA —** A catastrophic mid-air collision between a U.S. military helicopter and a passenger plane over the Potomac River near Washington D.C. has resulted in a presumed loss of all lives aboard both aircraft. The incident, which occurred Wednesday night around 9:00 p.m., left wreckage scattered across the river.
As of Thursday morning, 28 bodies had been recovered from the icy waters, according to Washington Fire Chief John Donnelly. The recovery operation, involving over 300 first responders, has shifted from rescue to recovery efforts. The helicopter, believed to have three soldiers on board, and the Bombardier plane, operated by an American Airlines subsidiary, were both on standard flight patterns under clear night skies. The passenger plane, flight 5342, was approaching Reagan National Airport from Wichita, Kansas, carrying 64 passengers and crew. Among the passengers were several U.S. Figure Skating athletes, coaches, and officials, as well as the married Russian figure skating pair, Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, 1994 world pairs champions.
Dramatic audio from air traffic control recordings reveals repeated attempts to confirm the helicopter’s awareness of the approaching passenger jet, culminating in a last-minute instruction for the helicopter to pass behind the plane. Moments later, communication was lost, followed by a witness report of a fireball. The passenger jet’s fuselage broke into three sections upon impact.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated his belief that the crash was preventable. Former President Donald Trump also weighed in on social media, questioning the actions of both air traffic control and the helicopter pilot. The cause of the collision remains under investigation. The incident has prompted widespread shock and grief, with officials expressing their deepest condolences to the victims’ families and friends.
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