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18 Bodies Recovered After Plane Collides with Helicopter Over Washington

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  • A plane collided with a helicopter over Washington, D.C., killing at least 18 people.
  • Bodies were recovered from the Potomac River after the crash.
  • Investigations focus on air traffic control and crowded airspace.

A tragic collision between a passenger plane and a military helicopter on January 29, 2025, resulted in the deaths of at least 18 people, sparking a massive search and rescue operation in Washington, D.C.

The crash, which occurred over the Potomac River near Reagan National Airport, has led to the grounding of all flights and a growing sense of shock across the nation.

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The Bombardier regional jet, operated by an American Airlines subsidiary, was carrying 64 people, including several athletes and coaches from the U.S. Figure Skating team. The plane, which had taken off from Wichita, Kansas, was nearing its destination when it collided mid-air with a Black Hawk helicopter carrying three U.S. Army soldiers on a training mission.

Eyewitnesses described the moment of impact as catastrophic. One witness, Ari Schulman, reported seeing a “stream of sparks” trailing the plane as it began to veer uncontrollably. “It looked like a Roman candle,” he said, recalling the moment the plane started to bank sharply before crashing into the river.

Emergency response teams, numbering approximately 300 personnel, immediately began scouring the waters under harsh conditions.

The rescue teams used powerful lights and divers to search the dark, near-freezing waters, but officials have expressed little hope of finding any survivors. Washington Fire Chief John Donnelly confirmed the difficult nature of the recovery efforts, which continue into the night.

By the following morning, at least 18 bodies had been pulled from the river, with more expected.

The identities of the victims are still being confirmed, but reports indicate that several prominent figures, including Russian pairs skating champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, were aboard the ill-fated flight.

Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser assured the public that the operation would continue “as long as it takes” to recover all bodies. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grounded all flights at Reagan National Airport, and it was not expected to reopen until 11:00 a.m. the following day.

The crash has raised serious questions about air traffic control and the safety of crowded airspace in the nation’s capital.

President Donald Trump, who was briefed on the incident, criticized the air traffic control system, questioning why the helicopter did not avoid the incoming plane. “This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented,” he posted on his social media platform, Truth Social.

The cause of the collision remains unclear, particularly given the plane’s advanced collision-avoidance technology and the ongoing monitoring of air traffic near the airport. Investigations into the incident are underway, and aviation experts are calling for a closer look at how two aircraft could collide in such a highly regulated and trafficked airspace.

This incident echoes the deadly crash of Air Florida Flight 90 in January 1982, which also involved a crash into the Potomac River, claiming the lives of 78 people. That tragedy was later attributed to pilot error and insufficient de-icing procedures.

FURTHER READING

The latest disaster, however, highlights the potential dangers posed by congested airspace and the challenges of ensuring safety in high-traffic flight paths.

As the investigation continues, American Airlines CEO expressed “deep sorrow” for the victims, and U.S. Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas called the crash “nothing short of a nightmare.” The nation mourns the loss of 18 lives in a tragedy that unfolded just outside the heart of the U.S. government.

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