The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has recovered critical evidence that could piece together the final moments before Wednesday’s deadly midair collision.

In a statement to Fox News, the agency said the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder from American Airlines flight 5342 has been found by NTSB investigators.

“The recorders are at the NTSB labs for evaluation,” an NTSB spokesperson said.

Fox News Jennifer Griffin contributed to this update.

Emotions were running high at The Skating Club of Boston Thursday after six people with ties to the organization died in a plane crash near Reagan International Airport Wednesday night.

Among those who spoke were Olympic silver medalist Nancy Kerrigan, who couldn’t hold back tears while talking about the crash.

President Donald Trump said there were no survivors after an American Airlines jet collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter.The plane was carrying 64 people, among them teenage skaters Jinna Han and Spencer Lane, their mothers Jin Han and Christine Lane and their coaches Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov.

Three members of The Skating Club of Boston — Misha Mitrofanov, Jimmy Ma and Alisa Efimova — also spoke of their peers, who they say were the next generation of hopeful U.S. Olympians.

“The potential that they showed on the ice and the capabilities they had at such a young age showed that they had promise for the future of this sport,” Mitrofanov, whose partner is Efimova, told reporters Thursday.

This is an excerpt of a story by Fox News Digital’s Scott Thompson Click here to read more.

A Philippines police officer was reportedly among the dozens of people on board an American Airlines plane when it collided with an Army helicopter near Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C. late Wednesday evening.

Speaking to The Associated Press, the Philippine police confirmed to the police officer’s identity as Col. Pergentino Malabed Jr.

Malabed headed the supply management division of the national police and had traveled to the U.S. to inspect equipment the Philippines was planning to purchase for its 232,000-member force, the Philippine police said.

“His untimely passing is a profound loss to the Philippine National Police, where he served with honor, with integrity and dedication throughout his career,” police spokesperson Col. Randulf Tuaño said in a statement.

In a statement Friday, the Chinese embassy in the U.S. said two Chinese nationals were among the victims of a midair collision near Reagan National Airport.

They went on to express their deep condolences to all victims and say they will provide consular protection and assistance.

“The Chinese Embassy extends deepest condolences to all the victims and sympathies to the bereaved families,” an embassy statement said. It did not offer further details on the victims.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker slammed President Donald Trump late Thursday, following the deadline collision between an American Airlines plane and an Army helicopter.

In a statement, the Democratic governor said Trump was “unfit to lead during moments of crisis like this.”

“Before victims have even been identified, Trump is blaming people with disabilities,” Pritzker wrote. “He’s blaming the U.S. service members in the Blackhawk helicopter. He’s blaming hiring programs he can’t even name or offer examples of. The buck stops with him – yet he is failing to demonstrate his role as protector of the American people and head of our government.”

A professor from Howard University was among the 67 people on board an American Airlines flight that collided with an Army helicopter near Reagan National Airport late Wednesday.

Howard University President Ben Vinson III announced the passing of Professor Kiah Duggins in a post on X late Thursday.

“It is with profound sadness that the Howard University community and the Howard University School of Law have learned of the passing of Professor Kiah Duggins, who was among those lost in the mid-air plane collision at Reagan National Airport,” Vinson wrote. “We ask for privacy and respect for Professor Duggins’ family, students, and colleagues during this difficult time.”

The Black Hawk helicopter involved in Wednesday’s deadly midair collision was possibly flying higher than approved and outside of its flight path, according to media reports.

The aircraft was supposed to be flying lower and in a different location while in the airspace around Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, the New York Times reported, citing four people briefed on the matter.

Helicopter pilots must get approval from an air traffic controller before entering busy commercial airspace. On Wednesday, the pilot of the Black Hawk asked for permission to use a specific route that lets helicopters fly no higher than 200 feet and near the bank on the east side of the Potomac River, which would have let it avoid the American Airlines plane, the report said.

However the aircraft didn’t follow the intended route. Instead, it flew above 300 feet and was at least a half-mile off the approved route when it collided with the airplane jet.

One of the U.S. Army pilots killed when their Black Hawk helicopter collided with an airplane has been identified.

The wife of Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Eaves, of Mississippi, confirmed his death on social media.

“I am sure by now all of you have heard the news of the tragedy that has occurred in DC,” she wrote on Facebook. “My husband was one of the pilots in the Blackhawk. We ask that you pray for our family and friends and for all the other families that are suffering today. We ask for peace while we grieve.”

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said the state was mourning the loss of Eaves.

“Mississippi is mourning the loss of Brooksville native Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Eaves, who was killed in last night’s accident at Reagan National Airport,” Reeves wrote on X. “Elee and I are praying for the victims’ families and first responders who are assisting.”

Southwest Airlines CEO Bob Jordan said “our hearts go out” to people on the American Airlines flight involved in Wednesday night’s midair collision with a helicopter in the nation’s capital. 

The chief executive of the Dallas-based carrier took a moment to “acknowledge the tragic accident near Reagan DCA Airport last night” before he and other Southwest executives launched into a discussion of the airline’s fourth-quarter financial results on Thursday with analysts and investors.

“Our hearts go out to all those loved ones who are among the passengers and the crew, and we also extend our sympathies to our friends at American Airlines and their subsidiary PSA Airlines as they process this event themselves,” Jordan said, adding that he wanted to “thank the first responders who worked tirelessly throughout the night.”

“And while we are all competitors, we are one airline community, and we will do everything we can to support our friends at American and at PSA,” he continued.

Airlines issued travel fee waivers for passengers after a deadly midair collision near Washington, D.C., temporarily halted operations at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. 

United Airlines said Thursday that it issued a waiver for travelers who are booked on flights heading to or leaving from the Arlington, Virginia, airport. Passengers who have flights through Saturday will be able to reschedule their trip without getting hit with change fees and fare differences, according to United.

Delta also issued a travel waiver for people traveling on Thursday to and from Reagan National Airport, Washington Dulles International Airport and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.

United CEO Scott Kirby issued a statement Thursday about the collision, saying the airline is in touch with its “colleagues at American Airlines and will continue to offer any assistance and support they may need.”

Recovery efforts a day after the deadly midair collision remain ongoing and divers have searched all accessible areas, authorities said Thursday.

The Washington D.C. Fire and EMS Department said drivers will work Friday with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) “to locate aircraft components, to support the investigation, and begin operations to salvage the aircraft” in the Potomac River.

“Overnight, boats will remain on scene for security and surface searches from local, state, and federal regional partners,” the agency wrote on X.

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One of the black boxes, or data recorders, has reportedly been retrieved from American Eagle flight 5342, which burst into a ball of flame after colliding with an Army Black Hawk helicopter near Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, according to federal legislators.

Fox has learned that Congressional members demanding answers about the collision said the box had been recovered from the CRJ-700, however the NTSB says it is way too soon to jump to conclusions.

The night before American Eagle Flight 5342 collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport on Wednesday night, a jet that tried to land at the same airport had to circle around and make another approach after a helicopter approached its flight path, according to reports.

The Washington Post reported that an audio recording from air traffic control captured the encounter, and ultimately, Republic Airways Flight 4514 landed safely, flight tracking software shows.

The Embraer E-175 was cleared to land at the airport’s Runway 19 and advised about a helicopter in its vicinity. It executed a go-around maneuver after its automated collision avoidance system ordered what’s known as a ‘resolution advisory’ to avoid nearby traffic.

That put the aircraft out of proper alignment for landing, but was able to land safely several minutes later, The Associated Press reported.

The military helicopter was advised of the plane, which was flying around flew roughly 1,000 feet above the helicopter, according to flight tracking sites cited by the AP.

As to Wednesday’s crash, officials said they believe there are no survivors.

Responders continue to sort through the wreckage in search of remains. In total, there were 67 people on board the helicopter and airliner, combined.

Fox News Digital’s Louis Casiano contributed to this report.

American Airlines CEO Robert Isom on Thursday said the company was focused on being there for the families impacted by Wednesday’s deadly midair collision.

“The entire strength of the airline is focused on taking care of the families and loved ones for those who are on this flight,” he said in a video message.

The airline has activated its care team, and were ready to provide services in Washington D.C. and Wichita, Kansas, he said.

Anyone concerned about a loved one who may have been on American flight 5342 is asked to call 1-800-679-8215.

U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., said the activity level at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport could possibly be re-evaluated.

“Whenever I’m at Reagan and I see new gates being built,” Cramer told Fox News. “The terminal getting larger, realizing that there will never be another inch of runway, and that the skies are pretty congested.”

Cramer added that he often thinks there’s too much activity for such a small plot of land.

“I’m sure there’ll be a reevaluation of all of that,” he said.

The top Republican on the House Transportation Committee’s subcommittee on aviation is calling for a congressional hearing into the deadly collision between an American Airlines plane and a military helicopter in Washington, D.C.

“We say we are the gold standard, we just need to continue to maintain that level,” Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, who chairs the subcommittee, told Fox News Digital in an interview.

“I just want to sit down with all of them and, when the [National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) does its report – make sure that it’s very accurate, it’s factual, and that they come up with some recommendations – and then we’ll have to see if we need to change direction or change course based upon those recommendations. But we don’t know yet.”

Nehls praised Transportation Committee Chairman Sam Graves, noting his background as a pilot, and said he would be asking the Missouri Republican to convene meetings with the affected parties and those investigating the incident. Nehls suggested potential closed-door meetings to enable more candid discussions but said a public hearing would also be in order.

“We have to find out the reason for the crash and then come up with, you know, recommendations to make sure it doesn’t happen again,” he said. “We don’t need to be sitting on this. I don’t want to hear, ‘It’s going to take 18 months.’ I don’t want to hear that.”

And it appears federal investigators are on that same page.

NTSB officials said they hope to have a preliminary report out in about 30 days.

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An aviation attorney predicted that the victims’ families would file a lawsuit against the U.S. government and American Airlines in the coming days after a regional jet carrying 64 people collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter.

James Brauchle, an aviation attorney, told Fox News Digital that it is typically difficult for people to wrap their minds around aviation disasters “because they’re just not supposed to happen.”

“Airline aircraft travel is extremely safe,” he said. “And we haven’t had a commercial accident in the U.S. involving a U.S. carrier, since Feb. 2009 in Buffalo, New York .”

“It’s been 14 years without incident,” he said. “And so when these kinds of things happen, it’s really hard for people to wrap their minds around what happened. And the biggest thing that’s going through people’s minds right now is why? Why did this happen?”

Brauchle said that following the initial shock, the victims’ families look to hold stakeholders accountable.

“I can’t think of a commercial aircraft accident in the United States that didn’t result in litigation,” he said. “So I’m going to assume that that’s going to happen. And that’s usually done, obviously, through the filing of a lawsuit.”

“Based on what we know right now and basing this on past experiences, the potential parties are the airlines and the U.S. government.”

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A U.S. Air Force veteran discussed the challenges of flying a military helicopter in congested airspace, saying that “aircraft lights and ground lights all look the same at night.”

“It’s really hard to tell. And I’ve heard a lot of people say, ‘I can’t believe they just ran into it,’ but they probably never saw the aircraft until the very last second, or they’d already hit it,” Jim Cardoso, the Senior Director for the University of South Florida’s Global and National Security Institute and a U.S. Air Force veteran, told Fox News Digital.

“And people find that hard to believe, but this giant aircraft at night is just two more lights added to all the other lights in the D.C. area,” he said.

Cardoso said that when he flew military helicopters at night in urban settings, he tended to take off his night vision goggles “because they washed out so much cultural lighting and became almost useless.”

“We’ll find out what they were doing in that case. My sense is the airliner that’s about to land, is approaching low and slow, and really they’re not maneuverable at all at that point,” he said. “The helicopter is maneuverable. If the helicopter had seen the aircraft, that aircraft could have probably maneuvered pretty rapidly away, but they probably didn’t see it until the last second.”

The Air Force veteran said that while the video of the devastating crash was “heart-wrenching” to watch, it will serve an important role as investigators determining the cause of the accident.

“It will be incredibly valuable in the investigation because they normally don’t have video of airplanes crashing. They do in this case,” he said. “So they’ll be able to pull a ton of information off that to really get into the nuts and bolts of what happened here and then to prevent it from happening again.”

“The point of an investigation is mishap prevention,” he said. “What do we do to make sure this never happens again?”

Three Virginia public school students and six parents were on the American Air Lines flight that collided with an Army helicopter Wednesday night.

Fairfax County Public Schools said the students and parents were returning to Virginia from a figure skating event in Wichita, Kansas.

“What we know at this time is that three of our FCPS students and six of our FCPS parents were lost, affecting multiple schools and departments here at FCPS,” school district Superintendent Michelle Reid said in a statement. “Two of the parents were current or former FCPS staff members. Multiplying the grief are the siblings, spouses, relatives, friends and colleagues who have lost loved ones.”

Reid said the district will not release the names of the students and parents involved in the deadly collision, citing privacy concerns.

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Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, questioned whether the number of helicopter flights in and around Ronald Reagan International airport is good policy.

“It is a reasonable question to ask if that is wise policy for there to be so many helicopter flights in close proximity to that airport,” Cruz told Fox News Digital. “I’m sure that’s a question that will be asked.”

Cruz said finding out what went wrong should be based on the evidence and investigation.

He said he plans to host a bipartisan briefing at some point for members of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation, which he chairs, to listen to the preliminary results from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

Fox News Digital’s Julia Johnson contributed to this report.

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President Donald Trump on Thursday signed two executive orders pertaining to aviation safety.

In the Oval Office, Trump said the first order was to appoint Chris Rocheleau as deputy administrator for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Since the agency doesn’t have an administrator, Rocheleau, who worked at the FAA for more than two decades, will work as the acting administrator.

“He’s a very capable guy,” Trump said while signing the order.

The second order established a memorandum ordering an immediate assessment of aviation safety and ordering an elevation of “competence” over “DEI,” or Diversity, equity and inclusion.

Trump has vowed to stamp out DEI practices within the federal government, arguing such policies promote discrimination instead of merit.

While signing the order, he blamed former presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama for implementing DEI policies across the federal government.

“Biden was much worse. Not even a contest. What they’ve done is just crazy, in so many other ways,” said Trump.

Family and friends of those who lost their lives in the deadly American Airlines and Army helicopter collision are sharing tributes online as they wait for more answers about how this tragedy happened. 

Two of the victims identified so far are Sam Lilley, 28, the first officer on American Airlines flight 5342; and Ian Epstein who was a flight attendant.

Loudoun County Public Schools in Virginia announced that multiple victims were former students in the school system.

The Kremlin said Thursday that Russian figure skaters Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, who competed in multiple Olympic Games and medaled in multiple world championships, were also among those aboard the American Airlines flight.

Fox News Digital’s Stepheny Price and Sarah Rumpf-Whitten contributed to this report.

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One of the soldiers killed in Wednesday’s deadly midair collision was identified as Black Hawk crew chief Ryan O’Hara.

O’Hara was from Georgia and was a member of a Marine Corps Junior ROTC (Reserve Officers’ Training Corps) program, Fox Atlanta reported.

He graduated Parkview High School in Lilburn in 2014. In a post on X, Georgia Gov. Brain Kemp praised O’Hara and Sam Lilley, 28, the first officer on American Airlines flight 5342.

“Both of these young Georgians shared a passion for flight and for serving others, and this terrible tragedy is that much more difficult knowing their lives were cut so unexpectedly short,” he wrote. “Marty, the girls, and I ask that all Georgians join us in keeping their loved ones in our thoughts and prayers.”

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The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) intends to issue a preliminary report on the collision within 30 days, officials said Thursday.

 “Our intention is to have a preliminary report within 30 days, and the final report will be issued once we’ve completed all of our fact-finding and investigation,” NTSB board member Todd Inman told reporters during a news conference.

The agency will not determine a probable cause for the accident, he said.

“Nor will we speculate about what may have caused this accident,” he added.

The flight data recorders havenot yet recovered , which isn’t unusual NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said.

Army secretary nominee Daniel Driscoll questioned whether Army helicopters should be flying training missions in one of the nation’s most congested flight paths after Wednesday’s tragic Washington, D.C.-area collision.

“It’s an accident that seems to be preventable,” Driscoll, an Army veteran, said during a Thursday confirmation hearing at the Senate Armed Services Committee.

“There are appropriate times to take risk and inappropriate times to take risk,” he said. “I think we need to look at where is an appropriate time to take training risk, and it may not be at an airport like Reagan.” 

Sixty-four people were aboard the American Airlines flight inbound from Wichita, Kansas, which collided with an Army Sikorsky H-60 Black Hawk helicopter just before it was set to touch down at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia. Authorities do not believe anyone survived. 

One of the 67 people presumed dead following the midair collision last night between an American Airlines passenger jet and an Army helicopter near Reagan National Airport was flight attendant Ian Epstein, Fox News has confirmed.

Epstein, a father of two and stepfather of two, recently became a flight attendant a few years ago. He loved traveling and his job.

Epstein grew up in Montreal, Quebec.

The American Airlines flight operated by PSA Airlines was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members during the time of the collision.

American Airlines did not immediately respond Thursday to a request for comment by Fox News Digital.

Fox News’ David Lewkowict contributed to this report.

Staffing at the air control tower at Ronald Reagan National Airport was “not normal for the time of day and volume of traffic,” according to an internal preliminary Federal Aviation Administration report reviewed by The New York Times.

The controller who was handling helicopters Wednesday night was also instructing planes that were landing and departing from the airport runways, the Times reported. Those assignments are typically assigned to two controllers.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the FAA.

The air control tower at Reagan airport has been understaffed for years with 19 fully certified controllers as of September 2023. However, staffing targets set by the FAA and the controllers’ union call for 30.

One set of remains from the soldiers on the Blackhawk have been recovered, according to a senior US defense official.

The instructor pilot in charge who was flying the Black Hawk helicopter involved in the collision near Reagan National Airport had 1,000 flying hours — which is considered “very experienced,” considering most flights are on average two hours in length.

The co-pilot, who is known as the pilot in command – was a female who had 500 hours flying experience.

Both were being evaluated during the flight, and were familiar with the area and route.

“This is a relatively easy route,” an Army warrant officer with decades of experience flying Army helicopters told reporters at the Pentagon. The pilot was flying down the center of the river, which is generally dark, likely wearing night vision goggles. Memorial Bridge would have been their last checkpoint.

“This should not have been a problem,” the officer added.

Military and other government helicopters fly this route almost daily, the senior Army pilot and warrant officer also said.

Fox News’ Jennifer Griffin contributed to this update.

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First responders have recovered the bodies of all three soldiers who were on board an Army Black Hawk helicopter when it collided with an American Airlines flight near Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C.

Officials said Thursday that the remains will be at Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. That office coordinates the dignified transfer of fallen service members. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details not yet announced. No identities of the crew have been released.

They were killed in midair collision with an American Airlines passenger jet late Wednesday near the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport outside of Washington, D.C. There were 64 people on board the jet and officials say all of them were killed in the crash.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said earlier the identities of the soldiers are known but will not be released publicly until next of kin had been notified. 

The Associated Press contributed to this update.

American former figure skater Nancy Kerrigan said Thursday that the sport’s community is grieving following news that figure skaters, their coaches and parents are among those presumed dead in the plane crash near Reagan National Airport.

“Every rink that has skating has some, I’m sure, some feeling towards this. It’s tragic,” Kerrigan said at the Skating Club of Boston.

Doug Zeghibe, the CEO of the Skating Club of Boston, said earlier Thursday that six of its members died in the midair collision last night.

Zeghibe said 14 skaters were returning home from a national development camp in Wichita, Kan., and six of them belonged to his organization. 

“You don’t have to know everybody to feel that connection,” Kerrigan said. “And we’ve been through the same thing, that training, that rigorous schedule of falling over and over and somehow picking yourself back up, which is like the main lesson I think learned in skating is you get back up, keep on trying. And even when it’s hard, you get back up. Even when you’re crying, hurt, pain, you get back up and move forward.”

“It’s not easy,” she added, “but that’s what we all have to do now, together.”

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The fatal collision between an American Airlines passenger jet and a U.S. Army helicopter at Reagan International Airport on Wednesday night was likely a culmination of factors, according to aviation attorney Jim Brauchle, who says “we’ve been lucky” there haven’t been more air accidents.

Brauchle is a former U.S. Air Force navigator who now represents families of victims involved in aviation disasters, including the 2019 Boeing 737 Max 8 crash that killed 157 persons in Ethiopia shortly after takeoff and a 2014 Army Black Hawk helicopter crash that killed a soldier and seriously injured two others on board during a training flight at Hunter Army Airfield in Georgia.

“I hate to say this, but a lot of people in the aviation industry have predicted that there was going to be an accident,” Brauchle told Fox News Digital. “No one wants to, you know, say that out loud because obviously that’s a horrific thing. But there’s been a lot of near misses over the last several years. And we’ve been, you know, we’ve been lucky that there haven’t been more of these.”

Brauchle said that keeping a lookout for obstacles is harder than it looks.

“Having flown at night, having tried to look and see traffic, I think most people would say, ‘Oh, how hard is it to miss an airliner,’ right? You should be able to see that. But it’s a lot more difficult than people would expect,” he said.

Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger III, who famously landed a passenger plane on the Hudson River in 2009, commented on the deadly aircraft collision that occurred over the Potomac River on Wednesday night.

“We’ve had to learn important lessons literally with blood too often, and we had finally gotten beyond that, to where we could learn from incidents, and not accidents,” Captain Sullenberger told The New York Times.

Sullenberger explained to the outlet that “everything is harder” when flying at night. He noted that while the pilots’ ability to see may have been impacted by the darkness, “we don’t know” whether that was the case.

“I’m just devastated by this,” Sullenberger said. “We have the obligation to learn from every failure and improve.”  

At approximately 9:00 PM local time on Wednesday night, an Army Black Hawk collided with an American Airlines plane near Reagan National Airport outside of Washington, D.C. All 67 people onboard both aircraft are presumed dead.

John Donnelly, Chief of the District of Columbia Fire Department, said on Thursday morning that authorities did not believe there were any survivors, and the mission was shifting “from a rescue operation to a recovery operation.”

President Donald Trump called the deadly crash a “dark and excruciating night in our nation’s capital and in our nation’s history, and a tragedy of terrible proportions.”

“Together, we take solace in the knowledge that their journey ended not in the cold waters of the Potomac, but in the warm embrace of a loving God,” Trump said.

President Donald Trump on Thursday criticized former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg as a “disaster.” 

“He’s just got a good line of bulls–t,” he said of the Democrat, after blasting diversity, equity and inclusion policies at the Federal Aviation Administration.

Buttigieg hit back, calling Trump “despicable” for blaming Democrats after an American Airlines flight collided in midair with an Army helicopter, presumably killing 67 people.

“As families grieve, Trump should be leading, not lying,” Buttigieg said in a statement. “We put safety first, drove down close calls, grew Air Traffic Control, and had zero commercial airline crash fatalities out of millions of flights on our watch. 

“President Trump now oversees the military and the FAA. One of his first acts was to fire and suspend some of the key personnel who helped keep our skies safe. Time for the President to show actual leadership and explain what he will do to prevent this from happening again.”

Fox News Digital’s Anders Hagstrom contributed to this update.

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Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) is a “heavily regulated” airport with a notoriously challenging runway, a former CRJ-700 pilot and aviation expert said.

Ryan Tseko, a Former United Express Captain and Grant Cardone’s Private Jet lead Captain, told Fox News Digital that the airspace surrounding Ronald Reagan National Airport is a “high-traffic area.”

“You’re 3 or 4 miles away from the White House and as a pilot you need to be 100% on your game when you’re flying this approach,” he said.

Tseko said that a pilot’s “first line of defense” is their sight, noting the DCA’s runway is shorter than others, making a successful landing challenging.

“It’s a shorter runway into DCA. I mean, either it’s on a runway that is a little over 5,000 feet or 7,000 feet. That’s relatively small,” he said. “So the crew is focused on getting the gear down, flaps down and running through their checklists.”

The average length of a runway at major commercial airports is usually between 8,000 and 13,000 feet, according to AN Aviation Service Co.

Military transportation is common in the airspace, with helicopter pilots used to steering around commercial aircraft.

“The helicopter though, it appeared, had just taken off and was navigating around the traffic, which they do all the time,” he said. “The reaction comes back down to humans and pilots.”

No survivors are expected to be found after a midair collision involving an American Airlines regional jet, a CRJ-700 aircraft, flying from Wichita, Kan., and a military helicopter near DCA. The collision occurred moments before the jet was set to land, sending both aircraft into the Potomac River.

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President Donald Trump set his sights on DEI standards at the Federal Aviation Administration on Wednesday after a deadly in-air collision at the nation’s capital.

Trump, speaking to reporters in the White House briefing room, highlighted efforts by the Biden administration to lower aviation standards, though he acknowledged that the cause of Wednesday night’s crash has yet to be determined.

“We must have only the highest standards for those who work in our aviation system,” Trump said. “Only the highest aptitude – you have to be the highest intellect – and psychologically superior people, were allowed to qualify for air traffic controllers.”

“We have to have our smartest people. It doesn’t matter what they look like, how they speak, who they are. What matters is intellect, talent. The word talent. They have to be talented geniuses,” he continued. “We can’t have regular people doing that job. They won’t be able to do it.”

Trump noted that he had raised the qualification standards for air traffic controllers during his first administration, but he said President Joe Biden had lowered them once he left office.

The president reinstated the higher standards last week with an executive order, he said.

“We do not know what led to this crash, but we have some very strong opinions and ideas, and I think we’ll probably state those opinions now, because over the years I’ve watched as things like this happen and they say, well, we’re always investigating. And then the investigation, three years later, they announce it,” Trump said, going on to detail an investigation including the FAA, Department of Defense and the National Transportation Safety Board.

Trump went on to highlight a series of articles covering the FAA’s “diversity push” that he said occurred prior to him taking office.

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Aviation expert Jay Ratliff told Fox News’ ‘America’s Newsroom’ Thursday that “since this impact took place under 1,000 feet, the flight crew would not have had the benefit of the traffic collision avoidance system, alerting them to the fact that there was an aircraft that was in the same airspace.” 

“One of the things I’m looking at is the communication that took place between air traffic control and the military aircraft, as well as the American Airlines flight,” he continued. 

“The timing is something that I’m very curious [about], as the investigation moves forward, as far as the first time that the military aircraft was contacted by air traffic control. There seemed to be a very narrow window there between a question being asked, the answer coming back and then evasive maneuver as far as advice command after that,” Ratliff said. 

Loudoun County Public Schools said Thursday that several victims of the horrific plane crash in Washington, D.C., were former LCPS students.

“Our hearts are heavy as we process the devastating news of last night’s tragic plane crash over the Potomac River involving an American Airlines flight and an Army helicopter,” the district said in a statement. “This unimaginable loss has deeply affected our community, and with great sorrow, we have learned that multiple victims were former LCPS students. Many other Loudoun families have also been impacted, and we extend our deepest condolences to all those grieving in the wake of this tragedy.”

The school district is offering mental health services for children who may need help processing the tragedy. 

“Loss of this magnitude can bring a wave of emotions. Please know that you are not alone. We are here to support you, and we will navigate this difficult time together,” the district said. 

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On Thursday, at the start of Kash Patel’s confirmation hearing, Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, offered a prayer and a moment of silence for the victims of Wednesday’s deadly aircraft collision.

“Before we begin, I’d like to say that our prayers are with the victims and the first responders of the horrible tragedy at Reagan Airport,” Grassley said. “It’s reported that more than 60 souls were on board the plane and the helicopter that collided over the Potomac River.”

“This is a horrible, hard-to-understand disaster that demands answers. As first responders continue their recovery effort and investigators begin their work, Congress will work with the administration to get to the bottom of this,” Grassley said. “And we should all keep the people impacted in our prayers.”

“So, maybe we should for just a short period of time think about this tragedy,” Grassley added, pausing for a moment before kicking off the hearing.

A union representing air traffic controllers said Thursday that “it would be premature to speculate on the root cause” of the deadly midair collision near Reagan National Airport. 

“We cannot comment on the specifics, and it would be premature to speculate on the root cause of this accident. We will wait for the National Transportation Safety Board to complete its work and use that information to help guide decisions and changes to enhance and improve aviation safety,” said Nick Daniels, the president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NACTA). 

“America’s highly trained and skilled air traffic controllers all do amazing work every day keeping the nation’s passengers and cargo moving safely and efficiently to their destinations,” he added. “We serve quietly, but events like this remind us of the weight we bear. This job is more than a profession; it’s a responsibility we hold deeply, and when tragedy strikes, it stays with us.” 

The Metropolitan Police Department said Thursday that it is “deeply grateful to all of the first responders and partner agencies who are working together as recovery operations continue on the Potomac River.” 

A total of 67 people are presumed dead following the midair collision last night between an American Airlines passenger jet and Army Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport. 

“Many members have been on duty since the initial call over 14 hours ago and continue to remain focused on the incident,” DC Metro Police added. 

“We sincerely appreciate the outpouring of support from agencies across the region and the United States as we work through this tragic incident,” it also said. 

President Donald Trump said Thursday that he wouldn’t “hesitate to fly” following the deadly midair collision near Reagan National Airport.

“This is something — it’s been many years [since] something like this has happened and the collision is just something that we don’t expect ever to happen again,” he added.

“We have the safest flying anywhere in the world, and we’ll keep it that way,” Trump also said.

As investigators work to determine what led an Army helicopter to collide with a commercial American Airlines plane, a former Navy fighter pilot and American Airlines pilot believes that the deadly midair crash was “completely preventable.”

“There’s a lot of stuff going on. But as this mishap demonstrates, there is absolutely no room for error. And this is just an absolute tragedy that was clearly preventable,” Matthew “Whiz” Buckley, a former Navy F/A-18 fighter pilot, American Airlines pilot, and FedEx pilot told Fox News Digital.

He added that they are usually flying at lower altitudes and are very short trips, not long cross-country flights. Because of the controlled environment of these specific Army flights, Buckley is questioning if this was a mishap by Air Traffic Control (ATC).

“The controller absolutely has a lot of responsibility here. Rule one of aviation. Don’t hit anything, don’t hit another airplane, don’t hit anything attached to the ground,” Buckley said.

“Washington, D.C. airspace is some of the most controlled airspace on the planet. Clearly, I mean, after 9/11, if a bug flies in D.C., some agency needs to know about it,” Buckley explained.

“So when I saw this mishap happen, this is not supposed to happen ever.” 

Fox News’ Sarah Rumph-Whitten contributed to this update.

President Donald Trump said Thursday that the deadly midair collision near Reagan National Airport was a “confluence of bad decisions that were made and you have people that lost their lives, violently lost their lives.” 

“All of this is going to be studied, but it just seems to me from a couple of words that I like to use, the words common sense, some really bad things happened and some things happened that shouldn’t have happened because you had a helicopter going in [an] identical direction,” Trump said. 

“You had a helicopter that was at the exact same height as somebody going in essentially the opposite direction,” he added. “You had a plane that was following a track, which is a track that every other plane followed.” 

All 67 people onboard an American Airlines passenger jet and military Black Hawk helicopter are presumed dead following the collision.

President Donald Trump said Thursday that he is appointing an acting Federal Aviation Administration commissioner.

“I’m immediately appointing an acting commissioner to the FAA, Christopher Rocheleau, a 22-year veteran of the agency, highly respected,” he said.

“We must have only the highest standards for those who work in our aviation system,” Trump also said.

President Donald Trump said Thursday that the deadly midair collision near Reagan National Airport “has really shaken a lot of people, including people very sadly, from other nations who were on the flight.

“For the family members back in Wichita, Kansas, here in Washington, D.C. and throughout the United States and in Russia — we have a Russia contingent of very talented people, unfortunately, were on that plane. Very, very, very sorry about that, whose loved ones were aboard the passenger jet, we can only begin to imagine the agony that you’re all feeling. Nothing worse,” Trump said.

“Together, we take solace in the knowledge that their journey ended not in the cold waters of the Potomac, but in the warm embrace of a loving God,” he also said.

An interactive map shows the flight paths of American Airlines Flight 5342 and an Army Black Hawk helicopter moments before the two aircraft collided in midair near Regan National Airport.

The American Airlines flight was inbound to Washington, D.C., from Wichita, Kansas when at approximately 9 p.m. it collided with the Army helicopter. There were 60 passengers and four crew members aboard the plane and three soldiers on the helicopter.

The last transmission from the helicopter came in at 8:47 p.m. ET at 200 feet.

The last transmission from the jet was received at 8:48 pm. ET at 350 feet.

The wreckage from both aircrafts fell into the Potomac River, where nearly 300 first responders have conducted recovery operations overnight and into Thursday morning. At least 28 bodies have been recovered from the scene. Authorities believe there were no survivors. 

“This was a dark and excruciating night in our nation’s capital and in our nation’s history, and a tragedy of terrible proportions. And as one nation, we grieve for every precious soul that has been taken from us so suddenly,” President Trump said at a news briefing.

President Donald Trump began his statement Thursday regarding the midair collision near Reagan National Airport with a moment of silence.

“I’d like to request a moment of silence for the victims and their families,” the president told reporters.

“I speak to you this morning in an hour of anguish for our nation,” he then said.

“This was a dark and excruciating night in our nation’s capital and in our nation’s history, and a tragedy of terrible proportions,” Trump also said. “As one nation, we grieve for every precious soul that has been taken from us so suddenly.”

First lady Melania Trump offered her condolences to those who lost their lives in the horrific plane crash near Reagan National Airport on Wednesday.

“My heart goes out to those impacted by last night’s terrible tragedy,” the first lady said in a statement Thursday morning. “I pray for those who so sadly lost their lives, their families & loved ones, & the first responders who have worked tirelessly through the night. May they find strength and solace in this difficult time.” 

Tragedy struck late Wednesday when an American Airlines plane collided midair with an Army helicopter, destroying both aircraft in a fiery explosion. There were 64 people aboard the plane, including crew members, and three U.S. soldiers on the Black Hawk helicopter. 

First responders working in the freezing Potomac River have recovered at least 27 bodies from the plane wreckage and one from the helicopter. 

President Donald Trump is expected to speak at a press conference in the White House briefing room at 11:00 a.m. ET to provide an update on recovery operations and the investigations into the crash. 

Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Va., has now reopened following the deadly midair collision last night between an American Airlines passenger jet and Army Black Hawk helicopter. 

“All airport roads and terminals are open. Some flights have been delayed or cancelled, so passengers are encouraged to check with their airline for specific flight information,” the airport wrote on X. 

An aircraft was seen landing at the airport around 11:02 a.m. local time.

Fox News’ Mike Kettelberger contributed to this report.

Former President Joe Biden said Thursday that he and his wife Jill “are praying for the families of the victims who tragically lost their lives in the plane and helicopter crash near DCA. 

“We are immensely grateful to the brave first responders and emergency personnel on the scene,” he added.

All 67 passengers, crew members and soldiers onboard both aircraft are presumed dead.

An American figure skater was barred from the American Airlines flight that collided with a U.S. Army helicopter near Reagan International Airport on Thursday night.

Jon Maravilla told Russia’s Sputnik he was not allowed on the flight because his dog was too big to board. He said he ultimately decided to make the 14-hour drive back from Wichita, Kansas, to Washington, D.C. He also mentioned the issue on his personal Instagram account.

Maravilla told RIA Novosti that there were “about 14 figure skaters on the plane, not counting their parents and coaches,” according to The New York Times.

“Such a tragedy,” he added.

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin told Fox News on Thursday that first responders switching from a rescue to recovery mission was “heart wrenching.” 

“It’s been a tragically horrific night. The notice this morning that all teams had shifted from rescue to recovery is just heart wrenching. And it is heart wrenching for the families that I know were expecting a loved one to be home with them last night,” he added. 

“We had just the most extraordinary response last night with first responders coming from all over, the Coast Guard was on the scene immediately,” Youngkin continued. “And first responders from all over Northern Virginia and D.C. and Maryland along with federal resources. It was like something no one had seen before here at DCA. 

“And this morning the same intensity is being delivered in order to recover every lost life and reunite them with their families,” he also said. 

“Something went massively wrong,” according to Youngkin. “We have got to find out what went wrong and make sure it never happens again.”

President Donald Trump will hold a press briefing to discuss the plane disaster in Washington, D.C., at 11:00 a.m. ET in the White House briefing room, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday.

Trump was previously briefed on the disaster late Wednesday after an American Airlines plane collided midair with an Army Black Hawk helicopter at Reagan National Airport.

“May God bless their souls,” Trump said of the 60 passengers and four crew members aboard the plane, as well as three soldiers on the helicopter. He also thanked first responders and said he will continue to monitor the situation as it develops.

Nearly 300 first responders are engaged in recovery operations in the Potomac River. There are believed to be no survivors of the crash. Authorities have withheld the names and identification of the victims until their next of kin are first notified. 

Earlier, Trump said the collision “should have been prevented,” noting that the skies were clear Wednesday night. 

The Wednesday night collision of a commercial American Airlines flight and a Black Hawk helicopter in Washington, D.C., was a “needless loss of life,” and aviation rules may have been violated, according to aviation attorney Bob Clifford.

Clifford is the lead counsel representing families of victims involved in a 2019 Boeing 737 Max 8 crash that killed 157 persons in Ethiopia from Chicago.

“This morning President Trump came out and talked about how preventable it was that it should never have occurred, and that’s true,” Clifford told Fox News Digital. “Here in this particular airport in our nation’s capital, there’s an intersection and convergence all the time between civil and military aircraft. So, yes, it’s surprising to some folks that a military aircraft is anywhere near a commercial airport. But that’s common in D.C., especially at Reagan, because you have the forts right across the Potomac.”

He added that there are “very strict rules about how those aircraft should interact with each other,” and it appears “those rules may have been violated.”

“It’s obviously too soon to tell, though the finger-pointing is beginning already, when you have the CEO of American Airlines pointing this fingers at the air traffic controller and the helicopter and their communications,” Clifford said. “So there will be but there’s plenty of time for all of that, but certainly this was a needless loss of life.”

Clifford noted that audio from the air traffic controller appears to show an official giving the Black Hawk directions, first asking if the pilot sees the commercial aircraft and then telling the pilot to pass behind that aircraft, but there is no response before the crash.

“That’s why there’s been criticism of the of this night operation for the military that maybe the military shouldn’t be anywhere near Reagan Airport at night when they’re dealing with the visual issues of darkness and maybe even fog or other things,” Clifford explained. “… A lot of things to look at here, but we know it was a preventable loss of life, and it should not happen in this country.”

Doug Zeghibe, the CEO of the Skating Club of Boston, said Thursday that six of its members died in the midair collision last night between the American Airlines plane and military helicopter near Reagan National Airport in the Washington, D.C. area. 

Zeghibe said 14 skaters were returning home from a national development camp in Wichita, Kan., and six of them belonged to his organization. 

Two of the members were coaches who were former world pair champions and two were teenagers. Mothers of the athletes died as well, he added.

Zeghibe described the skating community as tightly knit. 

​

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth provided an update on the Army helicopter that collided midair with an American Airlines jet late Wednesday, revealing the Black Hawk was on a training flight.

“At about 8:48 last night, a UH60, assigned to the U.S. Army Aviation Brigade in the military district of Washington, Fort Belvoir, Virginia, collided tragically with a civilian airliner,” Hegseth told reporters Thursday.

“The Army unit involved was with Bravo Company, 12th Aviation Battalion at Fort Belvoir. It was an annual proficiency training flight.” 

Hegseth declined to identify the three soldiers aboard the helicopter until next of kin have been notified.

“We do know on our side who was involved. It was a fairly experienced crew, and that was doing a required annual night evaluation. They did have night vision goggles,” the defense secretary added. 

Hegseth said the Defense Department is actively investigating the incident. 

“It’s a tragedy, a horrible loss of life for those 64 souls on that civilian airliner. And of course, the three soldiers in that Black Hawk. They’re in our prayers, their families and their communities as people are notified. I can’t imagine and I know it’s it’s gone from a rescue mission to a recovery mission.” 

The mayor of Wichita, Kan., said Thursday that the flight from her city to Ronald Reagan Airport near Washington, D.C. started “just a year ago.”

That route was the one the American Airlines plane was taking Wednesday night when it collided with a military helicopter. All 67 onboard both aircraft are presumed dead.

“It was January 8th, 2024,” Wichita Mayor Lily Wu said. “The first flight, included Congressman Estes and Senator Moran, who took that first flight from Wichita to Washington, D.C. 

“We were very honored to have gotten that flight and continue to advocate for those nonstop flights out of our community,” she added. “So again, this is a true tragedy and one that this council and myself want all of our community members to know that our hearts are heavy. They’re also grieving. And we will provide the support that we can to those who have been affected.”

Rep. Ron Estes, R-Kan., said Thursday that “This is such a tragic day for our community.  

“So many of us will be touched by people that we know, directly or indirectly, that were victims of this tragedy that happened,” he said. 

“We have such, steep, history, of being involved in aviation and, being a close-knit community like we are. It’s going to have consequences for years to come,” Estes added.

Wichita Mayor Lily Wu became emotional Thursday as she expressed sorrow for those that died on American Airlines Flight 5342 after the plane collided with an Army helicopter shortly before landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C.

“Our hearts are heavy as a city,” Wu said at a news conference in Wichita, Kansas, where the flight departed on Wednesday.

“At this time, we have been told there are no survivors. We mourn with all those who have been impacted. This is a terrible tragedy that will unite those in Washington, D.C., and Wichita, Kansas, forever.” 

There were 60 passengers and four crew members aboard the American Airlines jet when it collided in midair with an Army Black Hawk helicopter at around 9 p.m. on Wednesday. Three soldiers were inside the helicopter. None are believed to have survived.

Wu said first responders in D.C. have recovered more than two dozen bodies from the frigid waters of the Potomac River. 

“We do not know yet final confirmation on all of the individuals who were on that flight. And of course, we will share that information, but not before families have been first contacted,” the mayor said. 

​

Air Traffic Control (ATC) audio from Wednesday’s collision between an Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines jet reveals the moments before and after controllers witnessed the disaster unfold. 

In the air traffic control audio, a controller can be heard directing American Airlines Flight 5342 to take Runway 33.

The AA pilot confirms he can take Runway 33 and is clear to land the aircraft, a PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet, referred to as “CRJ.”

The controller then instructs the helicopter, an Army UH-60 helicopter Sikorsky UH-60 helicopter, referred to as “PAT25,” to pass behind the jet.

About 40 seconds later ground traffic control alerted the tower.

“Tower Did you see that?”

“Yup we saw it,” someone from the tower says, and then the controllers begin the process of frantically diverting the flights.

“Everybody hold your positions on the field right now,” a female controller says.

“Fire command. The accident happened in the river. Both the helicopter and the plane crashed in the river… he approached into Runway 33,” she says.

​

First responders honored the flag draped remains of an unidentified victim recovered after the deadly crash involving an American Airlines jet and an Army helicopter at Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., FOX 5 reported.

The jet was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members Wednesday night when it collide in midair with the helicopter, which carried three soldiers. Nearly 300 first responders are conducting recovery operations in the Potomac River as there are believed to be no survivors.

At the time of the crash, Reagan National Airport reported clear skies, visibility of 10 miles and winds sustained out of the northwest at 16 mph, gusting to 26 mph. The temperature at the time was 50 degrees.

The Army told Fox News Digital that the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, carrying three soldiers, was “from Bravo Company, 12th Aviation Battalion, out of Davison Army Airfield, Fort Belvoir” and was conducting a “training flight.”

Multiple federal agencies are investigating. 

The U.S. Army has started notifying the families of the three soldiers on the Black Hawk helicopter that collided with an American Airlines plane near Reagan National Airport last night. 

A senior defense official told Fox News that the crew was “fairly experienced” and had night vision goggles onboard the helicopter. 

Military investigators are looking into the incident, the official added. 

Fox News’ Lucas Tomlinson contributed to this report.

The U.S. airspace is the safest in the world, an aviation expert said following the fatal collision at Reagan National Airport.

“It was the perfect storm of events that happened last night,” aviation expert Kyle Bailey told Fox News Digital.

The former Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) safety team representative likened the crash to walking outside and being struck by lightning. He noted that it was “unfair to cast blame at this early stage.”

“The U.S. military runs an incredible aviation operation,” he said. “But distractions do happen, and all humans make errors.”

​

An investigation into how an American Airlines jet carrying dozens of passengers and an Army Black Hawk helicopter collided midair at Reagan National Airport near Washington, D.C., will likely involve communication between the two aircraft, Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., said Thursday morning.

“What we’re seeing right now is what happens if you have a lack of communication or a misunderstanding,” Rounds, who serves on the Senate Intelligence Committee, told “Fox & Friends First.”

Rounds said that investigators will look at everything that happened during the flight, including potential mechanical breakdowns and avionic system failures, but he believes much of the discussion surrounding the collision will focus on communication between the aircraft and whether that communication was accurate.

“I’m sure there will be some second guessing, but I suspect that when everything is done and the dust settles the chances are really good that they’ll talk about a lack of communication between the aircraft,” Rounds said.

Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy said Thursday that “We are going to wait for all the information to come in from this vantage point” following the deadly midair collision between an American Airlines passenger jet and a military helicopter last night near Reagan National Airport in the Washington, D.C. area.

“But to back up what the president said and what I’ve seen so far, do I think this was preventable? Absolutely,” he added.

The Department of Homeland Security is not concerned that the deadly collision between an American Airlines flight and Army Black Hawk helicopter Wednesday had anything to do with terror, a DHS source tells Fox News.

There are “no terror concerns” and the indication is the incident is “just a tragedy,” the source said.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told reporters Thursday that both the American Airlines plane and Army helicopter were in a “standard flight pattern” when they tragically collided in midair. 

First responders have located the wreckage of both aircrafts, Duffy said. The fuselage of the American Airlines plane was inverted and located in three different sections in the freezing cold Potomac River, in waist deep water. 

Authorities are engaged in recovery operations Thursday morning as there are not believed to be any survivors. There were 64 souls aboard the American Airlines plane and three soldiers on the Army helicopter. 

Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy said Thursday that “everything was standard in the lead up to the crash.  

“Now obviously something happened here,” he said. “You’ll get more information and more details as this investigation moves forward. We’ll learn what happened.” 

Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority CEO Jack Carter said Thursday that “Unfortunately, we weren’t unable to rescue anyone.  

“But we are in the recovery mode right now,” he added, noting that Reagan National Airport will reopen at 11 a.m. ET.

“It’s safe. We’ve worked with all the federal agencies, FAA. And you know, it’s been determined that we can open that airport safely,” Carter added. “The recovery effort that’s on our property is on the waterfront. Our primary runway, 119, will be open. It’s away from any activity.”

American Airlines CEO Robert Isom said Thursday that the midair collision involving one of his airlines’ passenger jets and a military helicopter is “devastating.” 

“We’re absolutely heartbroken for the family and loved ones of the passengers and crew members, and also for those that were on the military aircraft,” he said. “Our focus right now is doing everything that we can to support all of those involved, and also the PSA Airlines team. This is devastating. It’s, we are all hurting incredibly. 

“Here’s what I can share at this early stage. American Air American Eagle Flight 5342, operated by PSA Airlines, traveling from Wichita, Kansas to Reagan National Airport, was involved in an accident just before 9 p.m. local time,” Isom also said. “On final approach into Reagan National, it collided with a military aircraft on an otherwise normal approach. At this time, we don’t know why the military aircraft came into the path of the PSA aircraft.” 

“We urge any family and friends looking for information about their loved ones to call our designated helpline,” Isom said. “And that’s at 1-800-679-8215.”

John Donnelly, Chief of the District of Columbia Fire Department, said Thursday that “we don’t think there are any survivors from this accident.” 

“We have recovered 27 people from the plane and one from the helicopter,” he added. 

“Despite all these efforts, we are now at a point where we are switching from a rescue operation to a recovery operation,” he also said. 

“The district office of the medical examiner has lead on reuniting these bodies and these people, with their loved ones,” Donnelly continued. “And we will continue to work to find all the bodies and collect them and reunite them with their loved ones.”

There were 60 passengers and four crew members onboard the American Airlines passenger jet, and three soldiers onboard the military helicopter.

Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy said Thursday that “We have located the two aircrafts, the fuselage of the American Airline plane was inverted.  

“It’s been located in three different sections. It’s in about waist deep water,” he added. 

” The helicopter was in a standard pattern. If you live in the DC area, you’ll see helicopters up and down the river. This flight pattern is seen oftentimes when you live in DC. This was a standard flight pattern last night as well,” Duffy continued. “The American Airlines flight coming in to land was in a standard flight pattern as it was coming into DCA.”

Washington, D.C. Mayor Murial Bowser also said “I speak for all of us when I say, and certainly all Washingtonians, how, very sad we are for American Airlines, for the United States Department of Defense and for all Americans, for the loss of life that happened with the collision of these aircrafts. 

”This morning, we all share in a profound sense of grief. I do want to thank the first responders who acted quickly last night, who ran towards danger, went into a very frigid river, and have worked throughout the night,” she added. 

​

National Security Advisor Michael Waltz told Fox News that more than 30 bodies have been recovered from the waters of the Potomac River following the midair collision between an American Airlines passenger jet and a military helicopter. 

Waltz said first responders in local and federal government are engaged in an “all hands on deck” response to the deadly incident.

“God bless those coastguardsmen and those rescuers, those park police that are down in those frigid waters,” Waltz said. “They’re doing everything they can to make sure we don’t have a fuel spillage, and they’ve recovered now over 30 bodies.”

At a press conference Thursday morning, D.C. fire chief John Donnelly placed the number of bodies recovered slightly lower at 27 from the plane and one from the Army helicopter.

Authorities believe there are no survivors.

“We will continue to work to find all the bodies and collect them and reunite them with their loved ones,” Donnelly said.

The Army said the Black Hawk helicopter involved in the midair collision near Reagan National Airport was “performing a training mission.” 

“While performing a training mission a United States Army UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter from Bravo Company, 12th Aviation Battalion, Davison Army Airfield, Fort Belvoir, Va., collided in midair with an American Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet Flight 5342 last night at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The FAA, NTSB and the United States Army will investigate,” Ron McLendon II, the Deputy Director of Joint Task Force-National Capital Region/United States Army Military District of Washington Public Affairs, told Fox News. 

“The FAA, NTSB and the United States Army will investigate. The NTSB will lead the investigation,” he added. “We are working with local officials and will provide any additional information once it becomes available.” 

Nearly 300 first responders are searching the Potomac River Thursday morning following last night’s midair collision between an American Airlines passenger jet and military helicopter near Reagan National Airport. 

Multiple boats could be seen in the Potomac River as the sun rose this morning. 

The American Airlines plane involved in the incident was operated by PSA airlines, a subsidiary of American Airlines. 

The collision in the Washington, D.C. area unfolded around 9 p.m. local time. 

Russian and U.S. figure skaters were on board an American Airlines flight that collided with an Army helicopter while landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington, D.C., on Wednesday night.

Russian figure skaters Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, who won a pairs title at the 1994 world championships and competed at the Winter Olympics twice, were among the passengers on the plane, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Thursday.

“Unfortunately, we see that this sad information is being confirmed. There were other fellow citizens there. Bad news today from Washington. We are sorry and send condolences to the families and friends who lost those of our fellow citizens who died in the plane crash,” he said.

The International Skating Union said it was “deeply shocked” over the incident.

Washington, D.C. Mayor Murial Bowser and other officials will hold a press conference at 7:30 a.m. ET Thursday at Reagan National Airport. 

“Tonight, as our first responders continue their efforts, we are sending our love and prayers to the families, loved ones, and communities who are experiencing loss during this terrible tragedy,” she wrote on X. 

The airport remains closed until 11 a.m. this morning following the nearby collision last night between an American Airlines passenger jet and an Army helicopter. 

“Due to an emergency situation, Reagan National Airport is currently closed,” reads a message being displayed at screens inside the airport’s terminal 1. “Passengers, please see your airline representatives for additional information.” 

​

A video appears to have captured the collision between the American Airlines passenger jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter Wednesday night near Reagan National Airport. 

The footage shows a fireball lighting up the skies in Washington, D.C. during the moment of impact. 

Sixty passengers and four crew members were onboard the passenger jet, while three soldiers were inside the helicopter. 

The Army says the helicopter was conducting a training flight in the area when the incident happened. 

Nearly 300 first responders are now searching the Potomac River following the collision. 

There has been an outpouring of lawmakers asking people to join them in praying following the mid air collision between an airplane and a military helicopter.

Among them was House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., who noted in a post on X, “I’m deeply saddened to learn about the horrific tragedy at Reagan National Airport. Please join me in praying for everyone involved as well as our first responders.”

“As we learn more information, please join me in praying for everyone involved in tonight’s crash at DCA,” Rep. Michael Cloud, R-Texas, noted in a tweet.

“I’m praying for all those affected by the devastating plane crash in DC tonight. My heart goes out to the families of those onboard. As we await more information, please join me in praying for the first responders on the scene as they conduct search and rescue operations,” Rep. Steve Womack, R-Ark., noted in a post.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau commented on the midair collision involving a military helicopter and an airplane in the U.S. on Wednesday night.

“We’re all extremely concerned about the accident at Reagan National Airport. As we wait for more details, my thoughts are with those on board, their loved ones, and the first responders right now,” the foreign leader said in a post on X.

Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., said in a post on X that he had just landed at the DCA airport on a flight from Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) shortly before the collision between an airplane and a military helicopter at DCA.

“I landed at DCA this evening at 8:42pm, IAH—DCA, minutes before an in-flight collision over the airport,” the congressman noted on Wednesday night. “My thoughts are with all involved and their families. Hoping first responders find survivors.”

​

“Several members” of U.S. Figure Skating were on the American Airlines flight that collided with a military helicopter near Reagan Washington National Airport late Wednesday, Fox News has learned.

The flight came days after the U.S. Figure Skating Championships which were held in Wichita from Jan. 20 to Jan. 26.

“U.S. Figure Skating can confirm that several members of our skating community were sadly aboard American Airlines Flight 5342, which collided with a helicopter yesterday evening in Washington, D.C.” U.S. Figure Skating said in a statement. “These athletes, coaches, and family members were returning home from the National Development Camp held in conjunction with the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas.”

“We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts. We will continue to monitor the situation and will release more information as it becomes available.”

The Army and Pentagon are investigating the collision, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said.

Hegseth wrote that the investigation was “launched immediately.” 

“Absolutely tragic. Search and rescue efforts still ongoing. Prayers for all impacted souls, and their families,” he wrote on X.

Federal and local officials held a press conference early Thursday morning to provide updates about the collision involving American Eagle Flight 5342 near Washington, D.C.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy were both present. Speaking at the podium, D.C. Fire and EMS Chief John A. Donnelly said that 300 responders were working on investigating the crash and retrieving victims from the scene of the crash in the Potomac River.

“This is a state and federal response as well,” Donnelly explained. “The U.S. Coast Guard has got some boats in the water as well. So it’s a highly complex operation.”

“The conditions out there are extremely rough for the responders. They’re dealing with, relatively, windy conditions and wind is hard, out on the river. So they’re out there working. We’re keeping doing everything we can to keep them safe.”

The National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB) has launched a “go-team” to the collision site.

The agency investigates transportation accidents and incidents and typically releases a report on its findings. 

​

CEO Robert Isom provided an update regarding American Airlines flight 5342 before departing to Washington, D.C. early Thursday morning.

Isom says the aircraft was operated by PSA airlines, a subsidiary of American Airlines. He went on to express his concerns about the events taking place and that the company is now focusing on the needs of those involved, the first responders and their loved ones.

He also went on to say he knows there are many questions and that although he can’t answer all of them at this time, they are working to get those questions answered and he will continue to provide updates. He said that it is important they report accurate information because they owe that to everyone involved.

“Flight 5342 was under the command of 4 crew members and carried 60 passengers for a total of 64 people on board. We are actively working with local state and federal authorities on emergency response, efforts and the American Airlines care team has been activated to assist our passengers and their families,” said Isom.

“We’re cooperating fully with the national transportation safety board in its investigation and will continue to provide all the information we can. Our cooperation is without pause, and we want to learn everything we can about today’s events. That work will take time, but anything we can do now, we’re doing and right now, that means focusing on taking care of all passengers and crew involved as well as their families, members of our go team will be on their way to Washington D. C, and I’ll be heading there shortly as well,” he added.

American Airlines has set up a special helpline that friends and family can call at 1 800 679 8215 if you believe you’ve had friends or family on board the flight.

President Donald Trump aired his thoughts about Wednesday night’s plane collision near Reagan National Airport in a candid Truth Social post.

Writing early Thursday morning, Trump said that the crash “should have been prevented,” and expressed concern over the incident.

“The airplane was on a perfect and routine line of approach to the airport,” Trump wrote. “The helicopter was going straight at the airplane for an extended period of time.”

“It is a CLEAR NIGHT, the lights on the plane were blazing, why didn’t the helicopter go up or down, or turn. Why didn’t the control tower tell the helicopter what to do instead of asking if they saw the plane. This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented. NOT GOOD!!!”

Vice President JD Vance took to social media Wednesday night to address the collision at Reagan Washington National Airport between a military Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines jet and to pray for those involved.

“Please say a prayer for everyone involved in the mid-air collision near Reagan airport this evening. We’re monitoring the situation, but for now let’s hope for the best.”

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt posted to X Wednesday night with an official statement from President Donald Trump .

“I have been fully briefed on the terrible accident which just took place at Reagan National Airport.,” the statement read.

American Eagle Flight 5342 was inbound from Wichita, Kansas.

Fox News’ Gabriele Regalbuto contributed reporting.

American Airlines is encouraging anyone who thinks they may have had a loved one on board Flight 5342 to call their hotline.

“If you believe you may have loved ones on board Flight 5342, call American Airlines toll-free at 800-679-8215,” the airline said in a statement. “Those calling from outside the U.S. can visit news.aa.com for additional phone numbers. Family members in Canada, Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands can call 800-679-8215 directly.”

The airline confirmed that American Eagle Flight 5342 en route from Wichita, Kansas (ICT), to Washington, D.C. (DCA) was involved in a mid-air accident at DCA.

There were 60 passengers and four crew members on board the aircraft.

“Our concern is for the passengers and crew on board the aircraft. We are in contact with authorities and assisting with emergency response efforts,” the airline said. 

The Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport will be closed until 11 a.m. Thursday, officials said.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) originally said the airport would be closed until 5 a.m. Friday.

However, officials announced the earlier re-opening during a news conference.

The temperature in the Potomac River was 37 degrees on Wednesday night, as search and rescue operations were ongoing.

American Eagle Flight 5342 had 60 passengers and four crew members on board.

Shortly before the collision, air traffic controllers at Reagan National Airport asked the pilots of the military helicopter if they had the arriving regional jet in sight, according to an audio recording.

After the transmission, the controller gives the helicopter permission to pass behind the jet. 

The helicopter pilots acknowledge that the regional jet is in sight and that they will “maintain visual separation,” according to the audio recording.

The two aircraft collide shortly after the tower controller’s radio call.

A pilot from another aircraft is heard saying, “Tower, did you see that?”

The air traffic controller is then heard frantically diverting other arriving aircraft away from the airport.

FOX Businesses’ Matthew Kazin contributed to this post.

Lawmakers across the U.S. expressed sympathy and grief after a passenger plane collided with a military helicopter near Reagan National Airport in the Washington, D.C. area on Wednesday night.

A PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet operating as an American Airlines flight collided in midair with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter approaching Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C. around 9 p.m. local time, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The flight left Wichita, Kansas, earlier that day.

The passenger flight was carrying 60 people, but officials have not confirmed the exact number of injuries and fatalities. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who started work on Monday, said that he was aware of the incident in a post on X.

This is an excerpt from an article written by Fox News’ Andrea Margolis

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly took to X to express her condolences and speak about the active investigation of those involved in a midair collision with a regional jet and military Black Hawk Wednesday night.

“I am aware that a plane inbound from Wichita was involved in a crash at Reagan National Airport. I am actively in contact with authorities. My thoughts go out to those involved. I will share more information as it becomes available,” Kelly posted.

Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Kristi Noem posted to X Wednesday night regarding the crash between an Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines jet at Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C.

“We are deploying every available US Coast Guard resource for search and rescue efforts in this horrific incident at DCA. We are actively monitoring the situation & stand ready to support local responders,” Noem wrote.

“Praying for the victims and first responders.”

Fox News’ Gabriele Regalbuto contributed reporting.

Rescue efforts underway concentrated near Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge for mid-air collision involving a PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet and Army UH-60 helicopter Sikorsky UH-60 helicopter while on approach to Runway 33 at Reagan Washington National Airport around 9 p.m. local time.

Flight 5342 for American Airlines had 60 passengers and four crew on board the flight that collided.

The FAA and NTSB are investigating, according to a statement released by the FAA.

American Airlines took to X following a crash between a PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet and a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter.

The official account read, “We’re aware of reports that American Eagle flight 5342, operated by PSA, with service from Wichita, Kansas (ICT) to Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA) has been involved in an incident. We will provide information as it becomes available.”

Fox News’ Gabriele Regalbuto contributed reporting.

The Wednesday night collision at Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C. marked the first time there has been a crash involving a U.S. commercial flight since 2009.

Colgan Air Flight 3407, a flight from Newark, New Jersey, to Buffalo, New York, stalled and crashed during landing approach near Buffalo Niagara International Airport on Feb. 12, 2009. The plane slammed into a house.

All 45 passengers and 4 crewmembers were killed at the time.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt posted a statement from President Donald Trump to X Wednesday night.

“I have been fully briefed on the terrible accident which just took place at Reagan National Airport. May God Bless their souls. Thank you for the incredible work being done by our first responders. I am monitoring the situation and will provide more details as they arise.”

Three soldiers were onboard the Blackhawk that collided with an American Airlines jet on Wednesday evening at Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., Fox News’ Jennifer Griffin confirmed.

The aircraft collided with a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter.

The Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk is a four-blade, twin-engine, medium-lift utility military helicopter, which can carry 15 people, including two pilots, two crew chiefs and two rescue specialists.

Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kans., said in a post on X that he had seen reports of a collision with a D.C. helicopter and an inbound flight from Wichita, Kansas.

“We are in contact with authorities working to get answers,” Marshall wrote. “We ask you to join us in prayer for every single passenger and their families.”

Marshall later wrote that the aircraft was carrying roughly 60 passengers when it collided with the military helicopter.

“My prayer is that God wraps his arms around each and every victim and that he continues to be with their families. There are no words that can make telling this story any easier,” he wrote. “I ask the world to join me in praying for Kansas this evening, the first responders, rescue crews, and all those involved in this horrific accident. I have been in contact with local and national authorities asking for answers and will continue to demand more information on how this unfolded.”

This is an excerpt from an article written by Fox News’ Greg Wehner.

Search and rescue efforts are underway after a military Black Hawk helicopter collided with a regional jet near Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C. Wednesday night.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Donald Trump is aware of the situation, adding that it “tragically appears a military helicopter collided with a regional jet.”

All flights were halted. The DC Fire and EMS Department confirmed in a post on X that an aircraft went down in the Potomac River vicinity near Reagan National Airport, adding that fireboats were on the scene.

The Washington D.C. Police Department posted on X that it was responding to an apparent air crash in the Potomac River, adding that multiple agencies were responding.

Video of the scene shows numerous emergency crews responding.

One video posted to X and captured from the webcam at the Kennedy Center caught what appeared to be a midair explosion near the Potomac River.

This is an excerpt from an article written by Fox News’ Greg Wehner.