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 30, 2025, 12:25 AM EST

DC-area hospitals report 'no patients' from crash

Three emergency care providers in the Washington, D.C., region have confirmed with ABC News that they have not yet received any patients from the crash.

Inova Fairfax said its "hospitals are prepared to care for any patients from the tragic incident at DCA" just before midnight on Wednesday. "Our hearts are with all those affected," the medical provider also said in its statement to ABC News.

"At this time, we have not received any patients," VHC Health, formerly the Virginia Hospital Center, said in a statement at midnight on Wednesday.

"The crash at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is a sad and shocking tragedy and our thoughts are with all those impacted by this incident. We are working directly with the Arlington and Metropolitan Police Department, Fire, and EMS teams and all authorities," VHC Health said, adding, "VHC Health is prepared to assist and support first responders as these agencies continue their emergency response."

"We did not receive anyone from the plane collision," a representative from MedStar Health confirmed with ABC News.

-ABC News' Youri Benadjaoud and Eric Strauss

Jan 30, 2025, 12:15 AM EST

American Airlines CEO headed to DC

American Airlines CEO Robert Isom released a video statement about the crash of Flight 5342 over the Potomac River on Wednesday night as it approached Reagan National Airport.

"First and most importantly I'd like to express our deep sorrow about these events," Isom said.

PHOTO: Passengers waiting for baggage at Ronald Reagan National Airport react after the airport was shut down following a collision between a commercial airplane and a military helicopter in Arlington, Va., Jan. 29, 2025.
Passengers waiting for baggage at Ronald Reagan National Airport react after the airport was shut down following a collision between a commercial airplane and a military helicopter over the Potomac River near Regan National Airport in Arlington, Va., Jan. 29, 2025.
Will Oliver/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

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He said the airline is fully cooperating with the National Transportation Safety Board and working with federal, state and local authorities on the response to the crash. The airline is sending a "go team" to D.C. and Isom said he will join them shortly.

"We want to learn everything we can about today's events," Isom said. "That work will take time."

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

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