ARLINGTON, Va. — On a rainy Friday, police boats scoured the edges of the Potomac River while investigators searched for information related to a tragic midair collision that resulted in the loss of 67 lives, raising significant concerns about aviation safety in the Washington, D.C. area.
Officials confirmed the recovery of the black box from the Army Black Hawk helicopter involved in the crash with a commercial airliner, both of which plunged into the Potomac. Investigators are currently analyzing this flight data recorder alongside two others retrieved from the jet earlier.
Unfortunately, there were no survivors from the incident that occurred on Wednesday night. As of Friday afternoon, authorities had recovered the bodies of 41 individuals, with 28 of those being positively identified. Washington D.C.’s Fire Chief, John Donnelly Sr., provided updates during a press briefing, noting that notifications had been sent to 18 families, and he anticipates the recovery of all remains.
Donnelly indicated that in order to retrieve additional bodies, the fuselage of the airplane would likely need to be extracted from the river. He commented on the difficult nature of the recovery work, revealing that more than 300 responders were engaged in this effort, including diving teams and vessels from the U.S. Coast Guard, one of which is equipped with a crane. “This is heartbreaking work,” he remarked, adding that it has been a challenging operation for many involved.
The timeline for the ongoing recovery operation remains uncertain. “We’re working as swiftly as we can,” Donnelly stated, asking for patience from the public.
The American Airlines flight was carrying 60 passengers along with four crew members, while the helicopter had three military personnel aboard. Although Ronald Reagan National Airport was reopened, two of its three runways remained inactive to prevent aircraft from flying over the site of the crash, according to the airport’s vice president and manager, Terry Liercke. As a result, around 100 flights were canceled on Friday.
In response to the collision, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) implemented strict restrictions on helicopter operations near the airport, following statements from President Donald Trump, who suggested that the helicopter had been operating at an altitude above permitted limits.
Investigators have successfully retrieved the cockpit voice recorder alongside the flight data recorder from the American Airlines jet. Officials stated the flight data recorder was in good condition and expected to yield valuable information shortly. However, water entered the cockpit voice recorder, complicating the investigative process. The black box from the helicopter was stated to be undamaged and is now at the NTSB headquarters for further examination.
Authorities are currently scrutinizing the actions of both the military pilot and air traffic control, particularly considering the helicopter’s trajectory leading into the jet’s path. While NTSB investigations can take a minimum of a year, preliminary findings are anticipated within 30 days.
Military aircraft regularly operate in the vicinity of the capital, practicing routes designated for the emergency relocation of crucial government personnel in times of crisis. Factors such as the helicopter’s altitude and the use of night vision equipment by the crew are under review, as stated by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
On Friday, the Army identified two soldiers who perished in the incident: Staff Sgt. Ryan Austin O’Hara, 28, from Georgia, who served as the crew chief, and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves, 39, from Maryland, who piloted the helicopter. The Army has requested postponement in revealing the identity of the third soldier at the family’s request.
The FAA has prohibited helicopter flights over a designated 6-mile stretch of the Potomac and adjacent shoreline areas, including over the airport, with exemptions for emergency medical missions, law enforcement operations, and flights involving the President. This restriction is likely to remain effective until the NTSB completes its preliminary report.
Weather conditions were reportedly clear when the American Airlines jet, which had various passengers on board including students and figure skating teams, approached from Wichita, Kansas.
Debris from the crash has been found several miles downriver, as Dean Naujoks of Waterkeeper Alliance discovered floating remnants in shallow coves along the Maryland side, including pages from flight manuals and personal items belonging to victims. “Everything is covered in jet fuel,” Naujoks said, reflecting on the somber reality of the tragedy.
According to an FAA report, a single air traffic controller managed both helicopter traffic and aircraft arrivals and departures at the time of the crash, a practice not typically standard for such situations. However, sources indicated that combining these roles was considered normal due to an anticipated decrease in traffic during nighttime hours.
Inman stated that investigators have begun interviews with air traffic controllers present during the incident. The examination will cover controller staffing, training, and operational procedures, especially given the FAA’s ongoing struggles with air traffic controller shortages.
Jonathan Koziol, chief of army aviation, affirmed the stricken helicopter crew’s expertise and familiarity with the area’s busy airspace. While the maximum altitude for the helicopter was 200 feet at the time, it remains to be determined if this was exceeded. Hegseth suggested that altitude likely played a role in the collision.
Following the incident, President Trump has made comments questioning the pilot’s actions and indicated that the helicopter was violating altitude restrictions, asserting that this should have been clear.
This devastating crash marks the highest loss of life in the United States from an aviation incident since November 2001 when a jet crashed into a residential area in New York, claiming 265 lives. Aviation safety experts note that air travel remains exceptionally safe, though the congested airspace around Reagan National poses challenges, even for seasoned pilots.
