The death toll from the tragic collision between American Airlines Flight 5342 and a Black Hawk helicopter continues to rise. Authorities have confirmed that 55 out of 67 victims have been identified, with more names expected soon.
Washington DC Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly revealed on Sunday that progress is being made in identifying the victims. However, the search continues in the Potomac River to recover the bodies of the remaining passengers, which include entire families, young ice skaters, a college student, and all four crew members.
“Reuniting the victims with their families is what keeps us going,” said Col. Francis B. Pera from the Army Corps of Engineers.
Challenges in recovery efforts
Efforts to recover the wreckage have proven difficult. Divers are battling freezing waters, with one suffering from hypothermia and needing hospitalization. Thankfully, he has since been released and is doing fine. “That’s the only injury we’ve had so far,” Donnelly reported.
While some divers have been physically harmed, the emotional toll is just as heavy. One firefighter described the scene as “horrible” after seeing the wreckage firsthand. “The water is clear, but the images are disturbing,” he shared.
Grieving families gather at crash site
The tragedy occurred Wednesday evening near Reagan National Airport. As authorities worked tirelessly on the recovery operation, families of the victims gathered near the crash site. Grief and anger filled the air as loved ones arrived in buses, hoping for answers.
Black Hawk helicopter’s flight path under scrutiny
The Black Hawk helicopter, which collided with Flight 5342, was flying off course when the accident occurred. The helicopter was supposed to follow “Route 4” at Reagan National, which keeps aircraft below 200 feet to avoid commercial planes. Instead, it flew above 300 feet and was half a mile off track when the crash happened.
Air traffic control (ATC) audio from the time reveals confusion. A controller asked the Black Hawk pilot if they could see the commercial flight. There was no response, and moments later, the two aircraft collided.
Former and current air traffic controllers have said that the controller should have directed both aircraft to separate, but nighttime conditions made it difficult to judge distance. One controller was overseeing both helicopters and commercial flights at the time of the crash, something that is not unusual after 9:30 p.m. when traffic slows down. However, the crash occurred before 9 p.m., which may have contributed to the confusion.
FAA and NTSB investigating the crash
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are now investigating the incident. “This is a complex investigation,” said NTSB investigator Brice Banning, emphasizing that the team is working hard to piece together the details.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy raised several questions on national television about the crash, asking if the control towers were understaffed and whether the Black Hawk pilots used night vision goggles. Duffy also expressed concern over ongoing staffing shortages in air traffic control, which have been a problem for years.
The FAA responded by restricting helicopter traffic around Reagan National, a measure that came after President Donald Trump criticized the Black Hawk’s altitude on social media, saying it was “far above the 200-foot limit.”
Tragedy’s impact on U.S. aviation history
This tragic crash is the deadliest in the U.S. since 2001, when a jetliner crashed into a residential area in Queens, New York, killing 265 people. Despite this, experts continue to emphasize that air travel remains safe, even in the crowded airspace around Reagan National. However, the complexity of managing such traffic remains a challenge for even the most skilled pilots.
The investigation continues as authorities work to uncover exactly what went wrong, while the families of the victims await answers.
