DC plane crash updates: 55 victims recovered and positively identified

All 67 people on board the plane and the helicopter were killed.

Last Updated: February 2, 2025, 4:59 PM EST

An American Airlines regional jet went down in the Potomac River near Washington, D.C.'s Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport after colliding with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter on Wednesday night, with no survivors.

Sixty-four people were on board the plane, which departed from Wichita, Kansas. Three soldiers were on the helicopter.

The collision happened around 9 p.m. when the PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet was on approach to the airport.

Map of the area around Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and the layout of Runway 33, which the regional American Airlines jet was approaching at the time of the collision with the Army Black Hawk helicopter, according to officials.
ABC News, Google Earth, Flightradar24, ADS-B Exchange
Jan 29, 2025, 11:58 PM EST

Black Hawk that collided with American Airlines jet was on training flight

The U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter that collided with American Airlines Flight 5342 over the Potomac River was on a training flight at the time, according to Heather Chairez, spokesperson for Joint Task Force-National Capital Region.

"We can confirm that the aircraft involved in tonight’s incident was an Army UH-60 helicopter from Bravo Company, 12th Aviation Battalion, out of Davison Army Airfield, Fort Belvoir during a training flight. We are working with local officials and will provide additional information once it becomes available."

-ABC News' Luis Martinez

Jan 29, 2025, 11:56 PM EST

Confirmed fatalities in DC plane-helicopter crash

There are confirmed fatalities from the collision of American Airlines Flight 5342 and the U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River.

Several bodies have been pulled from the Potomac River crash site, according to two law enforcement sources familiar with the ongoing operation.

Rescue teams stage to help search the Potomac River after a commercial airplane reportedly collided with a military helicopter on approach to Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, Jan. 29 2025.
Shawn Thew/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

So far, no survivors have been rescued from the water, the sources said.

-ABC News' Aaron Katersky

Jan 29, 2025, 11:37 PM EST

Wichita Airport activates support team

The Wichita National Airport has activated an incident and support team to help within the terminal to provide families with information, according to Jesse Romo, Wichita's director of airports.

Romo called the crash "devastating" during a press briefing tonight and said he believes there are family members of those aboard the American Airlines flight already at the airport seeking any updates.

Direct flights from Wichita National Airport to DCA launched a year ago, Romo said.

Jan 29, 2025, 11:25 PM EST

FBI sending response team to crash

The FBI Washington Field Office said in a statement that it's sending its National Capital Response Squad "in support of our law enforcement and public safety partners."

Rescue teams search the Potomac River after a commercial airplane reportedly collided with a military helicopter on approach to Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, Jan. 29 2025.
Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA-EFE/Shuttersto

-ABC News' Jack Date

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