No Survivors in American Airlines and Black Hawk Collision Near Washington, D.C.

An American Airlines jet carrying 60 passengers and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter crashed into the Potomac River after a midair collision near Reagan National Airport, the first major U.S. commercial aviation disaster since 2009.

An American Airlines regional jet collided midair with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Wednesday night, leading to notable emergency response and a search for survivors. The collision occurred around 9 p.m. ET, with both aircraft crashing into the Potomac River. All passengers perished, according to D.C. Fire Chief John Donnelly, speaking on Thursday during a press conference. “At this point, we don’t believe there are any survivors from this accident,” he said, revealing that 27 bodies were recovered from the plane, and one from the helicopter.

American Airlines Flight 5342, operated by PSA Airlines, was en route from Wichita, Kansas, to Washington, D.C., carrying 60 passengers and four crew members. The aircraft, a Bombardier CRJ700, was on its final approach to Runway 33 when it collided with the Sikorsky H-60 Black Hawk helicopter. The helicopter, on a training mission from Fort Belvoir, Virginia, had three soldiers on board.