Fri Jan 31 15:12:04 UTC 2025: ## Deadly Mid-Air Collision Near Washington D.C. Leaves 67 Dead

**Washington, D.C. –** A devastating mid-air collision near Reagan National Airport on Wednesday night has resulted in the deaths of all 67 people aboard an American Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter. The crash, the deadliest U.S. aviation disaster in nearly 25 years, occurred around 8:47 p.m. EST, three miles from the White House, sending both aircraft plunging into the Potomac River.

The American Airlines Bombardier CRJ700, Flight 5342, was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members en route from Wichita, Kansas. The Black Hawk helicopter had three military personnel on board. Recovery teams have retrieved the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder from the American Airlines plane, which are being analyzed by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). More than 40 bodies have been recovered from the river, and officials believe there are no survivors.

The NTSB, which has launched an “all-hands-on-deck” investigation, is examining a range of factors, including the helicopter’s altitude and air traffic control procedures. Initial reports suggest the Black Hawk may have been flying higher than its authorized altitude and outside its approved flight path. A preliminary report is expected within 30 days. The FAA is also investigating, acknowledging that the airspace around Reagan National is extremely congested. One air traffic controller was responsible for coordinating helicopter and plane traffic at the time of the collision, a deviation from typical procedures.

The identities of several victims are slowly emerging, including Russian figure skating coaches Yevgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, and other members of the skating community returning from a competition in Kansas. The names of the pilots and crew members from both aircraft have also been released. American Airlines has resumed flights on the affected route. Reagan National Airport is operating normally.

President Donald Trump, in posts on Truth Social, has questioned the helicopter’s altitude and suggested the incident was preventable, although these claims are unverified and the NTSB investigation is ongoing. He also made controversial comments on diversity policies, a claim that is separate from and not substantiated by the NTSB’s investigation. The investigation will explore a range of factors. International condolences have poured in, with various government officials and organisations expressing their sympathy. The impact of this tragedy will resonate for many years to come.

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