Investigators Probe Washington Air Crash as Black Boxes Recovered
WASHINGTON – U.S. authorities stated on Thursday that the cause of the midair collision between a regional jet and a U.S. Army helicopter remains unclear. The crash, which occurred at a Washington airport, claimed 67 lives, marking the deadliest U.S. aviation disaster in over two decades.
The black boxes from the American Airlines Bombardier jet, which was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, have been recovered. The aircraft collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter before crashing into the Potomac River while preparing to land at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday night.
There were no survivors. While authorities have yet to release all victims’ names, among those lost were promising young figure skaters and passengers from Kansas, where the flight originated.
Photographs of skaters Jinna Han and Spencer Lane, along with coaches Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova—who perished in the crash of American Eagle Flight 5342—were displayed at the Skating Club of Boston in Norwood, Massachusetts.
Senator Maria Cantwell confirmed that victims included citizens from Russia, the Philippines, and Germany, while Chinese state media reported two Chinese nationals among the deceased.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recovered both the cockpit voice recorder and the flight data recorder from the Bombardier CRJ700. A preliminary report on the crash is expected within 30 days.
NTSB official Todd Inman stated that the military helicopter was also equipped with recording devices, which will be analyzed by either the Department of Defense (DOD) or the NTSB under data-sharing agreements.
Authorities have begun collecting debris, including helicopter wreckage, which is being stored at a hangar at Reagan National Airport. Washington’s fire and emergency services confirmed that divers have searched accessible areas and will conduct further searches on Friday.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated that both aircraft were following standard flight patterns, and there was no apparent breakdown in communication.
INVESTIGATION UNDERWAY
Emergency responders were seen retrieving debris after the crash, which occurred near Arlington, Virginia. Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin told Reuters that over half of the victims’ bodies had been recovered.
President Donald Trump, without providing evidence, suggested that federal diversity initiatives may have played a role in the disaster—a claim that sparked political debate. Rights groups and Democrats accused Trump of politicizing the tragedy.
Trump also criticized the helicopter pilots and raised concerns about air traffic control. However, recorded radio communications revealed that air traffic controllers had warned the helicopter about the incoming jet and instructed it to change course.
At the time of the crash, a single air traffic controller was managing both plane and helicopter traffic at Reagan National, a situation described as “not normal” but deemed sufficient for lower traffic volumes. This setup, while not uncommon in the evening, has raised concerns amid ongoing staffing shortages in the U.S. air traffic control system.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has reported a shortfall of approximately 3,000 controllers, leading to mandatory overtime and extended workweeks for existing staff.
TRUMP BLAMES BIDEN
Trump blamed his Democratic predecessor, Joe Biden, for allegedly lowering hiring standards and accused the FAA’s diversity policies of compromising aviation safety.
During a White House briefing, Trump observed a moment of silence for the victims but continued to assert that federal hiring practices might have contributed to the crash.
His administration has provided no evidence to support these claims. The FAA policies in question, including provisions for applicants with certain disabilities, were also in place during Trump’s previous term in office.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg condemned Trump’s remarks, calling them “despicable” and accusing him of spreading falsehoods instead of offering leadership during a time of mourning.
CAUSE REMAINS UNCLEAR
Unlike Trump, other officials refrained from speculating on the cause of the crash.
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom stated that the American Eagle Flight 5342 pilot had six years of experience. The Bombardier jet was operated by PSA Airlines, a regional subsidiary.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that the Black Hawk helicopter was crewed by three experienced soldiers using night-vision goggles during an annual training flight. In response to the crash, the Army has temporarily grounded other flights from the involved unit and is reassessing regional training exercises.
Air traffic control recordings captured an exchange between controllers and the Black Hawk crew, call sign PAT25, moments before the collision.
“PAT25, do you have a CRJ in sight? PAT25, pass behind the CRJ,” an air traffic controller instructed at 8:47 p.m. ET on Wednesday, according to a recording on liveatc.net.
Seconds later, another aircraft radioed in, asking, “Tower, did you see that?”—apparently reacting to the crash. Controllers then redirected incoming flights to avoid the scene.
“I just saw a fireball, and then it was just gone. I haven’t seen anything since they hit the river,” a controller was heard saying.
Webcam footage captured the moment of impact, showing an explosion lighting up the night sky.
This is the deadliest U.S. aviation disaster since November 2001, when an American Airlines jet crashed after takeoff from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, killing all 260 onboard and five people on the ground.
Reagan National Airport, known for its high traffic volume, has seen multiple near-misses in recent years. In May 2024, a near-collision at the airport raised alarms about runway congestion and air traffic safety.
The NTSB has investigated nine incidents at the airport in the past two decades, including two fatal crashes.
