DC plane crash updates: 55 victims recovered and positively identified

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

ByIvan Pereira, Meredith Deliso, and Emily Shapiro
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

Key Headlines

Here's how the news is developing.
Jan 30, 2025, 10:50 AM EST

Biden says he's praying for the victims' families

Former President Joe Biden wrote on social media that he's "praying for the families of the victims who tragically lost their lives in the plane and helicopter crash."

"We are immensely grateful to the brave first responders and emergency personnel on the scene," he added.

Former President Barack Obama wrote on social media, "Our hearts break for the families who lost loved ones in the tragic plane and helicopter crash."

"Michelle and I send our prayers and condolences to everyone who is mourning today, and we’re grateful to the first responders who are doing everything they can to help under extremely difficult circumstances," Obama said.

Jan 30, 2025, 10:40 AM EST

6 victims on plane were from Skating Club of Boston

Fourteen figure skaters returning home from U.S. Figure Skating’s national development camp in Wichita, Kansas, were on board the plane, according to Doug Zeghibe, CEO and executive director of the Skating Club of Boston.

"Of those 14 skaters, six skaters were from the Skating Club of Boston: two coaches, two teenage athletes and athletes’ moms," Zeghibe said.

The Skating Club of Boston identified those on board as: athlete Jinna Han with mom Jin Han; athlete Spencer Lane with mom Christine Lane; and coaches Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova.

Signs display an "Emergency Alert" at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va.
Mark Schiefelbein/AP

U.S. Figure Skating has said "several members of our skating community" were on board.

"We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy," the organization said.

-ABC News’ Alex Faul

Jan 30, 2025, 9:59 AM EST

Trump to speak at 11

President Donald Trump will hold a press briefing on the crash at 11 a.m. from the White House.

Part of the wreckage is seen as rescue boats search the waters of the Potomac River after a plane on approach to Reagan National Airport crashed into the river outside Washington, DC, on January 30, 2025.
Andrew Caballero-reynolds/AFP via Getty Images

Jan 30, 2025, 9:57 AM EST

'Our hearts are heavy,' emotional Wichita mayor says

Lily Wu, the mayor of Wichita, Kansas, was emotional as she noted that there were no survivors of the American Airlines plane crash, which departed from Wichita.

"I want to address that our hearts are heavy," Wu said. "Our hearts are heavy as a city. Our hearts are heavy as a city council, and we are here to provide the support needed for our community."

-ABC News’ Alex Faul

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