Details emerge regarding the fatal crash involving a commercial aircraft and a military helicopter.

Last Wednesday night, a tragic incident occurred involving American Airlines Flight 5342 and an Army helicopter that collided in midair near Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C. This catastrophic event resulted in both aircraft plunging into the Potomac River, leading to the loss of all 67 individuals on board. The incident marks the deadliest aviation disaster in the United States since 2001.

Officials confirmed this week that the remains of all the victims have been recovered, although identification is still pending for one individual. The cause of the accident—taking place approximately three miles south of significant landmarks such as the White House and U.S. Capitol—remains under investigation as recovery crews work diligently to remove debris from the river.

The regional jet, which was en route from Wichita, Kansas, was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members and was in the process of landing when the collision occurred. Meanwhile, the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, which was engaged in a training operation and carrying three soldiers, was based at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. At the time of the incident, the weather conditions were clear.

Just moments before the crash, air traffic controllers requested Flight 5342 to use a shorter runway, to which the pilots consented. The flight was cleared to land and adjusted its approach accordingly. Approximately 30 seconds before the collision, a controller asked the helicopter if it had visual contact with the airplane, to which the helicopter pilot confirmed, stating he could see it. Shortly thereafter, another communication from the controller directed the helicopter to hold its position until the jet had passed, but no response was recorded before the two aircraft collided.

Following this devastating tragedy, officials expressed their heartfelt condolences to the families affected, noting the recovery of all victims’ remains in a joint statement issued by various city and federal agencies, including the Army Corps of Engineers and local emergency services. A medical examiner is still working to make a positive identification of one set of remains.

Recovery operations commenced swiftly, with salvage crews retrieving significant pieces of wreckage from the river, including one of the jet’s engines and major sections of the aircraft’s exterior. Operations continued under challenging conditions, leading to the successful retrieval of large components such as the right wing, the center fuselage, and parts of the cabin and cockpit. Additional efforts are planned to recover the helicopter wreckage later in the week.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is currently investigating the incident, assessing data suggesting that the helicopter may have been flying above the designated ceiling of 200 feet. Although radar data indicated the helicopter was at 300 feet, this figure is typically rounded to the nearest hundred feet. Additional verification of this information will require further analysis of the submerged helicopter wreckage.

The final moments recorded by the jet’s flight data indicated an altitude of approximately 325 feet, with a noted change in pitch just before impact. However, whether this alteration was an attempt at an evasive maneuver remains unclear. The airplane’s transponder ceased transmissions about 2,400 feet short of landing, and investigators later found the wreckage of the plane submerged in the river.

A thorough investigation conducted by the NTSB could extend over a year, though preliminary findings are expected within 30 days. Commentary from President Donald Trump suggested fault attributed to the helicopter for its altitude, prompting further speculation about the role of diversity and inclusion policies in air traffic control—claims that he has struggled to substantiate.

Among the victims were members of the Skating Club of Boston, who were returning home after participating in a development camp following the 2025 U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita. Among them were teenage figure skaters, their mothers, and two Russian-born coaches who had previously won a world championship in pairs skating. Also aboard were a group of hunters returning from a trip in Kansas, union members, families from schools in Fairfax County, and two Chinese nationals.

In terms of the Army personnel on the helicopter, they have been identified as Capt. Rebecca M. Lobach, Staff Sgt. Ryan Austin O’Hara, and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves, all having significant experience in military aviation and familiarity with the congested airspace around Washington, D.C.