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.
Feb 01, 2025, 8:21 PM EST

Army Corps of Engineers to begin removing downed jet from Potomac on Monday

The Army Corps of Engineers has released a timeline for removing the jet and helicopter wreckage from the Potomac River.

Salvage operations are set to begin on Monday, Feb. 3, according to the tentative timeline.

“The initial focus is removal of the remnants of the regional jet, which is expected to take three days," the Army Corps of Engineers said in a news release.

After that, crews will begin work to recover the Black Hawk helicopter.

"Large lifts" are expected to be completed by Saturday, Feb. 8, after which crews will focus on clearing remaining debris with salvage baskets.

The effort is expected to be completed by Feb. 12.

-ABC News' Luis Martinez

Feb 01, 2025, 6:47 PM EST

Emotional NTSB investigator pleads for leaders to improve safety

NTSB investigator J. Todd Inman got emotional when asked about his interactions with the victims' families and others who have been directly impacted by the incident.

PHOTO: American Airlines Plane And Black Hawk Helicopter Crash Near Reagan National Airport
ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA - J. Todd Inman, member of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), speaks with members of the media at Reagan National Airport as the search continues at the crash site of the American Airlines plane on the Potomac River on January 31, 2025, in Arlington, Virginia. The American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas collided midair with a military Black Hawk helicopter while on approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. According to reports, there were no survivors among the 67 people on both aircraft. (Photo by Al Drago/Getty Images)
Al Drago/Getty Images

"They're all just hurt and they want answers and we want to give them answers," he said. "It's horrible. No one has to suffer this."

Inman held up a challenge coin that he had in his pocket with the inscription, "From tragedy we draw knowledge to improve the safety for us all."

"We need people to take action," he said noting hundreds of recommendations that his agency has made following several transportation-related incidents.

"Adopt the recommendation of the NTSB. You'll save lives. I don't want to meet with those parents again," Inman added.

Feb 01, 2025, 6:33 PM EST

Black Hawk was on a training mission, had night vision capabilities

NTSB investigator J. Todd Inman said that the Army copter was on a training mission and it would utilize night vision goggles.

"We do not know at this time if the night vision goggles were actively being worn," he said.

Feb 01, 2025, 6:32 PM EST

Air traffic controller alerted copter crew about plane 2 minutes before crash

The NTSB said that the air traffic controller alerted the helicopter crew about the American Airlines plane about two minutes before the crash, based on the data they have collected.

Related Topics