67 people have died after American Airlines Flight 5342 crashed into a military helicopter and plunged into the Potomac River in Washington DC on Wednesday night
All 67 people have been confirmed dead after American Airlines Flight 5342 collided with a military helicopter and plunged into the Potomac River in Washington DC.
The doomed jet, travelling in from Wichita, Kansas, was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members when it smashed into the Army chopper carrying three soldiers. Ronald Reagan National Airport came to a standstill on Wednesday night, halting all take-offs and landings following the fireball smash, believed to have happened at around 9pm local time.
It sparked a complex search and rescue mission by first responders, fireboats and layers of emergency agencies, including the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), who rushed to the scene where the doomed jet lay split in two in the Potomac River.
It later emerged that two of the people onboard the plane were champion figure skaters. Russian figure skaters Yevgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were the first names to come out of those on board the flight which crashed into a US Army helicopter carrying three soldiers on Wednesday night. State-run Russian news agency TASS reported the two – who were married – had been on the flight.
The US Figure Skating confirmed several members of its community were on board the flight. During a press conference held at the White House, Trump confirmed there were no survivors after the crash.
“As one nation, we grieve for every precious soul that has been taken from us so suddenly,” he said at a press briefing. “Sadly, there are no survivors” of the crash, he added. Trump said it was still not clear what led to the crash, but the US Military and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating.
“We’ll find out how this disaster occurred and will ensure that nothing like this ever happens again,” he said.
Earlier today, once he was briefed on the collision, the US president said “may God bless their souls” as he thanked emergency services for their “incredible work.” He said: “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.”
Vice President J.D. Vance wrote 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.”
Shortly after the crash, American Airlines said in a statement: “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.”
The last major US commercial air crash killed 49 people in February 2009 when a Continental Airlines flight operated by Colgan Air left Newark, New Jersey and smashed into a house as it was approaching the airport in Buffalo, New York.
