A devastating midair collision between an Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines regional jet killed all 67 people aboard both aircraft late Wednesday night. The crash, which occurred just south of the White House, is the deadliest aviation disaster in the United States in nearly 25 years.
The accident occurred over the Potomac River as the Bombardier CRJ700 jet was making its final approach to Ronald Reagan National Airport. At least 28 bodies had been recovered from the icy waters, while recovery efforts continued across miles of the river. The plane, carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, was found in three large sections, partially submerged. The helicopter, carrying three Army personnel, was also discovered among the wreckage.
Investigation Ongoing
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigators have recovered the flight data and cockpit voice recorders from the jet for further analysis. The cause of the collision is still under investigation, but preliminary reports indicate that the Army helicopter may have flown into the path of the approaching jetliner.
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom said that the commercial flight was on a routine approach when the military aircraft suddenly cut into its trajectory. An FAA report indicates that the air traffic controller was directing both helicopter and airplane movements at the time of the crash. The alteration of the normal division of duties earlier in the evening contributed to the tragic accident.
Air Traffic Staffing Concerns
The FAA has long had staffing shortages, which have led many to wonder whether controller fatigue or oversight was a factor. Investigators are also examining whether the Black Hawk helicopter exceeded its maximum altitude of 200 feet at impact.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said altitude might have been a factor, but officials stressed that conclusions could only be drawn after analyzing flight data.
Nation Mourns
President Donald Trump addressed the nation Thursday, apologizing to the families of victims. He said a moment of silence but immediately made the discussion political, assigning blame to former President Joe Biden’s policies for the FAA’s alleged decline in safety standards. His words did not have facts to back them up.
At Reagan National Airport, travelers were in a somber mood as they processed the tragedy. In the meantime, flights were suspended, and recovery efforts continued in the icy waters of the Potomac.
This now catastrophic collision has reignited concerns about aviation safety, airspace management, and military-civilian coordination over Washington, D.C.
