Fri Jan 31 01:26:38 UTC 2025: ## Deadly Air Crash Kills 67 Near Washington D.C.

**WICHITA, Kan. (January 31, 2025)** – A catastrophic collision between an American Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday resulted in the deaths of all 67 individuals on board both aircraft. No survivors were found.

The American Airlines flight, carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, collided with the helicopter, carrying three soldiers, as the plane was landing. The wreckage was found in the icy waters of the Potomac River. At least 28 bodies were recovered from the river on Thursday, with recovery efforts continuing.

Among the victims were teenage figure skaters Jinna Han and Spencer Lane, returning from the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas, along with their mothers, coaches, and other young athletes from skating clubs in Boston, Philadelphia, and the Washington area. Also among the passengers was Grace Maxwell, a Cedarville University student returning from her grandfather’s funeral, and seven hunters returning from a guided trip. Four steamfitters from a Maryland union local were also killed.

The three soldiers aboard the Black Hawk helicopter were participating in a routine night training exercise. The wife of one pilot, Andrew Eaves, confirmed his death on social media.

President Donald Trump confirmed there were no survivors at a White House press conference. American Airlines established a hotline (1-800 679 8215) and family assistance centers to support those seeking information about loved ones.

Initial investigations suggest the helicopter entered the path of the arriving jet. A Federal Aviation Administration report indicates that air traffic control duties were combined into a single role at the time of the collision, a deviation from typical practice. While the FAA has long faced air traffic controller shortages, authorities state that staffing levels were normal for that night.

The crash marks the deadliest in the U.S. since 2001. While air travel is statistically safer than car travel, the tragedy has resulted in widespread grief and calls for a thorough investigation into the causes of the collision. The recovered remains will be sent to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware for processing.

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