U.S. News

Divers Use Night Vision to Search Icy Waters for a Miracle After Midair Crash Over the Potomac

BREAKING

Dozens were feared dead after an American Airlines commercial jet collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter.

ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA - JANUARY 30: Emergency response units assess airplane wreckage in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington Airport on January 30, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. An American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas collided with a helicopter while approaching Ronald Reagan National Airport. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Rescuers are scouring the icy waters of the Potomac River for any potential survivors of a midair collision between a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter and a passenger plane approaching Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport outside Washington, D.C.

The aircraft were carrying a combined 67 people, and so far officials have not confirmed whether any survived. CBS, citing a police official, reports that at least 18 bodies have been recovered from the crash site.

A dangerous search-and-rescue operation involving some 300 state and federal responders was mounted overnight, D.C. Fire and EMS Chief John A. Donnelly told a news conference around 1 a.m. EST on Thursday.

Police, fire and dive teams were using night vision equipment in the dark, freezing water.

Emergency response units respond to airplane wreckage in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington Airport on January 30, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia.
Emergency response units respond to airplane wreckage in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington Airport on January 30, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

“The water is dark, it is murky, and that is a very tough condition for them to dive in,” Donnelly explained. “If you can imagine, the river is a large black spot at night with no lights on it, except for a few buoy lights.”

Pieces of ice on the river make the operation particularly “dangerous,” Donnelly said. The rescue operation will last at least several days, he added.

When asked if there were any survivors, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser clarified: “All we can confirm tonight is the number of people on each aircraft. We can’t provide any more information on recovery efforts.”

Though officials have not directly confirmed the number of fatalities, Republican Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall hinted at “heartbreak beyond measure” in a press conference overnight, noting it “is such a tragedy that we lost them.”

US Senator (R-KS) Roger Marshall speaks at a media briefing at Reagan National Airport after a plane crashed into the Potomac River outside Washington, DC, January 30, 2025.
US Senator (R-KS) Roger Marshall speaks at a media briefing at Reagan National Airport after a plane crashed into the Potomac River outside Washington, DC, January 30, 2025. TING SHEN/AFP via Getty Images

The D.C. Fire and EMS Department initially confirmed the news on X Wednesday at 9:09 p.m. EST writing: “Confirmed small aircraft down in Potomac River vicinity Reagan National Airport. Fireboats on scene.”

Shortly after, the Federal Aviation Administration confirmed a midair collision had occurred between a PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet and a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter “while on approach to Runway 33 at Reagan Washington National Airport around 9 p.m. local time.” The commercial flight had departed from Wichita, Kansas, earlier on Wednesday.

Tracker Image of the mid air collision that occurred near Reagan National Airport
Flight tracking software shows the moment a passenger flight collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter over Washington, D.C. ADS-B Exchange

H-60 is a catch-all term for the Hawk family of military helicopters which include the Army and Air Force’s Black Hawks and the Navy’s Sea Hawks. One specialized unit of White Hawks, which the Marine Corps flies as presidential transport, is based near D.C. at Andrews Air Force Base.

The helicopter involved was an Army UH-60 helicopter flying out of Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Newly installed Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth confirmed the Black Hawk belonged to Bravo Company, 12th Aviation Battalion, out of Davison Army Airfield, Fort Belvoir.

Emergency response units conduct search and rescue operations in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington Airport on January 30, 2025 in Washington, DC.
Emergency response units conduct search and rescue operations in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington Airport on January 30, 2025 in Washington, D.C.

American Airlines released a statement confirming that “American Eagle flight 5342, operated by PSA, with service from Wichita, Kansas (ICT) to Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA)” had been involved in an “incident.”

The company said 60 passengers were on board the commercial flight as well as four crew members.

Three individuals were on board the U.S. Army helicopter, a defense official told CNN.

Footage of what is believed to be the crash, taken from live-stream company Earthcam, shows the plane approaching the airport before exploding in a ball of flames and disappearing moments later.

A senior FBI official with the Washington field office told NBC News that there seems to be no indication that the crash was an act of criminality or terrorism.

Alongside the FAA, the National Transportation Safety Board is also investigating the crash. The agency adds that its statement is based on preliminary information and may change in the hours to come.

The Reagan airport previously announced Wednesday that all takeoff and landings had been halted as emergency personnel were responding to the scene.

In a statement, President Donald Trump said he has been “fully briefed on the terrible accident which just took place at Reagan National Airport.

Lights from emergency vehicles are seen at Reagan National Airport after an air crash near the Potomac River.
Lights from emergency vehicles are seen at Reagan National Airport after an air crash near the Potomac River. TING SHEN/AFP via Getty Images

“May God Bless their souls,” Trump added. “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.”

The president shared another statement to Truth Social later in the night, voicing his confusion over the helicopter’s trajectory and why no one in the control tower seemingly took action.

“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,” Trump posted. “This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented. NOT GOOD!!!”

Vice President JD Vance also released a statement on X: “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.”

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