Crash at Reagan National Airport: Black Hawk military helicopter collides with American Airlines plane
Sixty-four people were on the commercial aircraft and three others were in the Armed Forces aircraft. There were no survivors, according to authorities. Here's what happened, minute by minute.
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Remains of the crashed plane in Washington, DC.
A military Black Hawk helicopter collided mid-air with an American Airlines jet at Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, on Wednesday night.
Donald Trump announced at a press conference that there are no survivors. "We'll ensure that nothing like this ever happens again," he also said, pledging to raise the standard for aviation employees.
The president and members of his Cabinet, including Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, vowed to conduct investigations in their areas of expertise to get to the bottom of the matter.
As the first names of the dozens of victims were being released, Reagan National Airport resumed operations.
Brought to you by VOZ, minute by minute, the hours following the tragic accident:
Control tower was understaffed
An internal safety report from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revealed that staffing in the control tower at Ronald Reagan National Airport was "not normal" the night of the accident.
According to information obtained by The New York Times, staffing shortages forced a single controller to simultaneously manage aircraft landing and takeoff operations, as well as helicopter traffic. Normally, these tasks are the responsibility of two controllers to avoid work overload and possible coordination failures.
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Society
FAA report reveals control tower was understaffed at the time of DC plane crash
Sabrina Martin
American Airlines pilots identified
"This is undoubtedly the worst day of my life." Timothy Lilley confirmed with those words to FOX 5 Atlanta that his 28-year-old son, Sam Lilley, was one of the pilots aboard the plane that crashed in Virginia. Sam was engaged, and according to his father's statements, he expected to be promoted shortly.
The captain of the aircraft was Jonathan Campos, according to the Daily Mail. The same media outlet identified the two flight attendants as Ian Epstein and Danasia Elder. Lilley, Campos, Epstein and Elder add to the trickle of names since the first hours of the tragedy.
Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, a Russian skating couple, former world champions who were now working as coaches, were also among the passengers on the commercial flight, Boston Ski Club CEO Doug Zeghibe confirmed.
"Skating is a tight-knit community where parents and kids come together six or seven days a week to train and work together. Everyone is like family," he said in a statement in which he released more victims: athletes Jinna Han and Spencer Lane, and their respective mothers, Jin Han and Christine Lane.
Although their names were not made public, the three Black Hawk helicopter crewmen belonged to Bravo Company of the 12th Aviation Battalion at Fort Belvoir.
Reagan Airport has resumed operations
Arlington Reagan National Airport reopened at 11 am EST. Some flights were delayed or canceled, so authorities recommended contacting the airlines to confirm the status of each flight.
The first flight since the crash belongs to Delta Airlines, according to the specialized site Flightradar24. It arrived from Minneapolis, just after 11 a.m.
Chris Rocheleau, FAA's new acting commissioner
During his press conference for the Virginia air incident, the president named Chris Rocheleau as acting commissioner of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Rocheleau is a senior executive with the aviation business association NBAA (National Business Aviation Association) with more than 20 years of experience at the FAA, whom Trump described as "highly respected."
"We will make sure nothing like this ever happens again," Trump
promised.
"We do not kow what led to this crash, but we have some very strong opinions and ideas," Trump maintained during a press conference.
"We'll ensure that nothing like this ever happens again," he also said, pledging to raise the standard for aviation employees. "Well restore faith in american airtravel."
He also criticized former Democratic presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden and their Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) policies.
Trump: "Sadly there are no survivors"
"I speak to you this morning in an hour of anguish for our nation," said President Donald Trump after beginning his expected press conference with a prayer. "A real tragedy."
The president assured that all available resources had been made available and praised the emergency services for their "phenomenal job."
Trump also assured that there were victims from different parts of the country as well as other countries.
Trump's press conference begins
Melania Trump: "I pray for those who so sadly lost their lives"
Minutes before the president appeared before the press, first lady Melania Trump released a statement assuring that her heart "goes out to those impacted by last night’s terrible tragedy."
"I pray for those who so sadly lost their lives, their families & loved ones, & the first responders who have worked tirelessly through the night," she wrote.
"May they find strength and solace in this difficult time."
Reagan Airport reopens its doors
Arlington's Reagan National Airport reported that it would resume operations at 11 am EST. "All airport roads and terminals are open," it added in a statement.
Some flights were delayed or canceled, so they recommended contacting the airlines to confirm the status of each flight.
Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense: "It was an experienced crew"
"We are actively working to investigate and understand what occured and why," said the new Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in a video released by the Defense Department.
The crew members were from Bravo Company of the 12th Aviation Battalion at Fort Belvoir. Although they were identified, Hegseth explained that the information will be kept confidential, for the time being.
"It was an annual proficiency training flight," he reported. "When we look at the crew ... it was a fairly experienced crew." In addition, he claimed they had night vision goggles.
Although the crew members were identified, he said that the information will be kept confidential, for the time being.
"It's a tragedy, a horrible loss of life."
Driscoll, nominee for Army secretary, vows incident won't happen again
Army Secretary nominee Daniel Driscoll began his Senate hearing by offering his condolences to the families of the victims of the plane crash in Washington, D.C., and pledged to "make sure it doesn't happen again."
Search continues with 28 bodies recovered

A helicopter uses a spotlight on the Potomac River
Lily Wu, mayor of Wichita: "We mourn with all those impacted"
"Our hearts are heavy as a city," Wichita Mayor Lily Wu told a news conference.
From that city, the American Airlines plane that collided with a military helicopter over the Potomac River in Virginia took off Wednesday.
"This is a terrible tragedy that will unite those in Washington, DC and Wichita, Kansas, forever," she added, after saying they were mourning "with all those who have been impacted."
"Our community needs to come together."
Army notifies families of three soldiers' deaths
The Army has already conveyed its condolences to the families of the three soldiers in the Black Hawk who lost their lives in the accident.
Collision was "absolutely" preventable
Newly confirmed Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the accident could "absolutely" have been avoided: "We are going to wait for all the information to come in from this vantage point, but … what I’ve seen so far, do I think this was preventable? Absolutely."
It is "safe" to reopen Reagan National Airport
Jack Potter, CEO of the port authority, assured that it is "safe" to reopen Reagan National Airport: "It is safe. We’ve worked with all of the federal agencies, FAA, and it’s been determined we can open that airport safely. The recovery effort that’s on our property is on the waterfront."
American Airlines: "We don't know why the military aircraft came into the path"
"We don't know why the military aircraft came into the path [of our commercial aircraft]," said American Airlines CEO Robert Isom.
Isom also announced that the company opened a toll-free number for the victims' families to request information: 800-679-8215.
No survivors expected, say officials
"We are switching from a rescue operation to a recovery operation. At this point I don't believe we are going to find any survivors," Fire and Emergency Services Chief John Donnelly told a morning news conference.
Donnelly confirmed that 28 bodies had been recovered, 27 from the American Airlines plane and one from the military Black Hawk helicopter. There were 67 people in total.
"We will continue to work to find all the bodies and collect them and reunite them with their loved ones," he promised.
Sean Duffy: "Our expectation is that there is safety, this time it wasn't met"
In one of his first statements as Transportation Secretary, Sean Duffy confirmed that the two aircraft had been found.
"This was a clear night," he said, confirming previous reports. Both the helicopter and the American Airlines plane were following "standard" flight patterns, and for them to be found nearby is not uncommon for the area, he said.
"Safety is our expectation," he said, "that didn´t happen this time." He also promised that neither he nor the president and his administration will rest until they get to the bottom of the matter: "You should be assured that when you fly, you are safe."
Mayor Bowser opens a press briefing
Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser opened a press conference regarding the plane crash at Ronald Reagan Airport. The event includes American Airlines executives, newly appointed Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy from the Trump administration and local congress members.
Bowser confirmed that the individuals affected include 64 passengers on the commercial airliner, three soldiers aboard the Black Hawk helicopter and people from the local area, Kansas, and other parts of the country.
The number of bodies recovered from the river now exceeds 30
Rescue crews have already recovered more than 30 bodies from the Potomac River, according to NBC Washington. Early Thursday morning, authorities transported the bodies found in the river to a temporary storage facility on a helipad near the D.C. Fire Department.
The American Airlines plane had 60 passengers and four crew members on board when it crashed into a Black Hawk helicopter during a training exercise.
Trump says the accident "should have been prevented"
President Donald Trump analyzed the conditions under which the collision occurred and assured that "it should have been prevented". The leader of the Executive also questioned the decisions made by the helicopter pilot and the airport control tower in a post on his Social Truth account.
"The airplane was on a perfect and routine line of approach to the airport. 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!!!"
U.S. and Russian figure skaters were on the crashed aircraft
The U.S. Figure Skating Federation confirmed "that several members of our skating community were sadly on board American Airlines Flight 5342, which collided with a helicopter yesterday afternoon in Washington, D.C. We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the families of the victims in our hearts. We will be monitoring the situation closely and will release more information as it becomes available," the organization told the New York Post.
In addition, the Russian news agency TASS reported that Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, 1994 world figure skating champions, were also traveling on the crashed plane.
Approximately 300 rescue workers are up against the clock in the dark, cold and windy weather
Approximately 300 rescue workers are up against the clock working in extreme dark, cold and windy conditions executing what is still being called a "rescue operation" on the Potomac River in the hope of finding any survivors.
The mayor of Washington, DC, Muriel Bowser, appeared before the media to give the latest update and report on the operation. "Our fire department, DC fire and EMS, supported by fire departments and police departments from across the metropolitan region are executing a rescue operation in the Potomac River.” She added, “They are working diligently in dark and cold conditions - cold water - to execute this rescue operation.” .
President Trump's statement on the crash: "May God bless their souls"
President Trump, in a statement released at 10:52 p.m., weighed in on the tragic accident: "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."
DCA suspends flights and landings
Arlington Reagan National Airport earlier announced the suspension of all takeoffs and landings due to the crash.
All takeoffs and landings have been halted at DCA. Emergency personnel are responding to an aircraft incident on the airfield. The terminal remains open. Will update.
— Reagan Airport (@Reagan_Airport) January 30, 2025
Kansas Governor speaks out
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelley said she was aware of the matter, without giving further details.
“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."
Senator Ted Cruz: "There are fatalities"
Several senators spoke out about the incident. Including Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who said on 'X' that he was aware of fatalities in the incident.
"am closely monitoring the situation at DCA, and I will receive a briefing from the FAA tomorrow. While we don’t yet know how many on board were lost, we know there are fatalities," Cruz reported. "Please join Heidi and me in praying for all involved as the search and rescue is underway."
FAA statement
Authorities are not yet confirming a number of injuries or casualties.
For more information, visit https://t.co/ECDOdj1kdr. pic.twitter.com/Z5vWq4vUJ2
— The FAA ✈️ (@FAANews) January 30, 2025
Defense Secretary says Army ready to provide assistance
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the Defense Department is monitoring the accident and is preparing assistance if needed.
"The Department of Defense is actively monitoring. Poised to assist if needed. Prayers for all involved," Hegseth said in a posting on X.
DoD actively monitoring. Poised to assist if needed. Prayers for all involved. https://t.co/qoFy90q22K
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) January 30, 2025
Search and rescue operations have begun
The District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department reported in a statement that at 8:53 p.m. they received multiple reports of a plane crash over the Potomac River.
"DC Fire and EMS, the Metropolitan Police Department and multiple partner agencies are currently coordinating a search and rescue operation in the Potomac River," police said. "There is no confirmed information on casualties at this time."
There is now an active rescue operation underway at the Potomac River in Washington D.C. after a passenger plane operated by American Airlines collided midair with a Black Hawk helicopter while trying to land. CBS News' @krisvancleave reports that this is the first commercial… pic.twitter.com/wBodTGwqZH
— CBS News (@CBSNews) January 30, 2025
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