A midair collision between an American Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter resulted in the tragic loss of 67 lives over the Potomac River on January 30, 2025. The American Airlines flight, which was carrying 64 people on board, had just started its approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport when it collided with the military aircraft around 9 p.m. ET, marking one of the deadliest aviation disasters in recent U.S. history.
The American Eagle flight 5342, operated by PSA Airlines, embarked on its routine leg from Wichita, Kansas, with 60 passengers and four crew members. Among them were several members of the U.S. figure skating community, returning from the National Development Camp held during the U.S. Figure SkATING Championships.
According to reports, the Black Hawk helicopter, carrying three soldiers, was on a training flight and had entered the heavily monitored airspace unawares of the approaching passenger plane. Just moments before the collision, air traffic controllers made radio inquiries to the helicopter about its situational awareness, attempting to assist them as they entered the path of the commercial flight.
The collision occurred at approximately 400 feet above ground level, resulting in a fireball as both aircraft plummeted to the frigid waters of the Potomac. Emergency response teams mobilized immediately; over 300 first responders joined the search and recovery efforts. Chief John Donnelly of D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services expressed the somber outlook of recovery attempts when he stated, "At this point I don’t believe we are going to find any survivors." The recovery operations concluded later Thursday with the confirmation of at least 30 bodies collected, along with the wreckage of the aircraft.
Efforts to manage the scene were complicated by the icy river conditions, and divers from multiple agencies, including the Coast Guard, conducted extensive searches with inflatable boats and illumination from searchlights. Helicopter and plane remnants emerged from the Potomac, starkly visible even though both vehicles lost via downed power and sinking wreckage, including black boxes, which provide insights for the ensuing investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
President Donald Trump, who remarked on the incident, said he was "fully briefed on this terrible accident" and offered prayers for the victims, stating, "May God bless their souls." American Airlines CEO Robert Isom conveyed his deep sorrow and emphasized their commitment to cooperation with investigative efforts.
The NTSB began reviewing the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder as part of the investigation. An early report indicated irregular staffing configurations within air traffic control during the time of the collision; one controller had been performing duties typically shared between two positions, which might have contributed to the tragic oversight.
The complexity of logistics during the recovery was compounded by the weather, as frigid temperatures prevailed even though conditions had improved from the previous days. The Potomac River's temperature hovered around 36 degrees Fahrenheit, just above freezing. This unique combination of human error and challenging environmental factors brought calls for intensified reviews of air traffic control procedures and protocols.
U.S. Figure SkATING, responding to the tragedy, stated, "We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims' families closely in our hearts." Among the victims were young athletes, their coaches, and family members of the skating community, illustrating the far-reaching impact of the loss across their network.
The deceased included six individuals associated with the Skatting Club of Boston: skater Spencer Lane, his mother Christine Lane, skater Jinna Han, her mother Jin Han, and coaches Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova, both known as former competitive figures. Many of these athletes were considered promising stars within their field, representing the future of American figure skating.
Local communities have responded with somber vigils and tributes to those lost. Wichita, where many of the passengers hailed, is grappling with the loss as it has been associated with the figure skating jobs and community pride. A mournful candlelight vigil brought citizens together for prayer and reflection, as many talk of their grief and disbelief surrounding the accident.
The cause of this heartbreaking disaster is still being entirely investigated, with many unanswered questions surrounding safety practices and training for air traffic control staff. Investigation officials are under pressure to provide clear answers to grieving families and the flying public alike as they strive to prevent such tragedies from occurring again.