Key updates

LATEST: Black boxes recovered

LATEST: ‘Young ice skaters’ feared among dead 

‘Crash could have been avoided’ – Trump

‘Tower did you see that?’ – nearby pilot to air traffic control 

Today01:57 PM
Denise Calnan

Washington DC plane crash: What we know so far

  • A massive recovery operation is underway after a passenger aircraft carrying 64 people collided mid-air with a US Army Black Hawk helicopter carrying three soldiers near Reagan National Airport outside of Washington, DC
  • About 300 first responders are currently searching the freezing Potomac River, where the aircraft crashed
  • 27 bodies from the American Airlines passenger jet and one from the military helicopter have been recovered so far 
  • Both flights were on their respective ‘standard flight pattern’ when the crash took place, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy told today’s press conference 
  • American Airlines’ CEO seemed to place blame on the helicopter for the crash 
  • Reagan National Airport will re-open at 4pm today
Denise Calnan
Today01:27 PM
Denise Calnan
A general view of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, in the aftermath of the collision of American Eagle flight 5342 and a Black Hawk helicopter that crashed into the Potomac River, in Arlington, Virginia, U.S., January 30, 2025.
A general view of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, in the aftermath of the collision of American Eagle flight 5342 and a Black Hawk helicopter that crashed into the Potomac River, in Arlington, Virginia, U.S., January 30, 2025. .REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz
A general view of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, in the aftermath of the collision of American Eagle flight 5342 and a Black Hawk helicopter that crashed into the Potomac River, in Arlington, Virginia, U.S., January 30, 2025.
A general view of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, in the aftermath of the collision of American Eagle flight 5342 and a Black Hawk helicopter that crashed into the Potomac River, in Arlington, Virginia, U.S., January 30, 2025. .REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz
Today01:20 PM
Denise Calnan
Rescuers on a boat work next to the wreckage of a Black Hawk helicopter at the site of the crash after it collided with the American Eagle flight 5342 which was approaching Reagan Washington National Airport and crashed into the Potomac River, outside Washington, U.S., January 30, 2025.
Rescuers on a boat work next to the wreckage of a Black Hawk helicopter at the site of the crash after it collided with the American Eagle flight 5342 which was approaching Reagan Washington National Airport and crashed into the Potomac River, outside Washington, U.S., January 30, 2025. .REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
Today01:11 PM
Denise Calnan

Transport Secretary agrees with US President Trump that crash was ‘avoidable’

“Do I think this was preventable? Absolutely.”

US Secretary of Transport Sean Duffy has agreed with President Donald Trump in his assessment of whether the collision could have been prevented.

“We are going to wait for all the information to come in from this vantage point, but to back up what the President said, in what I’ve seen so far, do I think this was preventable? Absolutely.”

Maeve McTaggart

Today01:07 PM
Denise Calnan
CEO of the American Airlines Robert Isom addresses the media, after American Eagle flight 5342 collided with a Black Hawk helicopter while approaching Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and crashed into Potomac River, in Washington, U.S. January 30, 2025.
CEO of the American Airlines Robert Isom addresses the media, after American Eagle flight 5342 collided with a Black Hawk helicopter while approaching Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and crashed into Potomac River, in Washington, U.S. January 30, 2025. .REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
Today01:07 PM
Denise Calnan
Secretary of U.S. Department of Transportation Sean Duffy addresses the media, after American Eagle flight 5342 collided with a Black Hawk helicopter while approaching Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and crashed into Potomac River, in Washington, U.S. January 30, 2025.
Secretary of U.S. Department of Transportation Sean Duffy addresses the media, after American Eagle flight 5342 collided with a Black Hawk helicopter while approaching Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and crashed into Potomac River, in Washington, U.S. January 30, 2025. .REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
Today01:06 PM
Denise Calnan
Secretary of U.S. Department of Transportation Sean Duffy addresses the media, after American Eagle flight 5342 collided with a Black Hawk helicopter while approaching Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and crashed into Potomac River, in Washington, U.S. January 30, 2025.
Secretary of U.S. Department of Transportation Sean Duffy addresses the media, after American Eagle flight 5342 collided with a Black Hawk helicopter while approaching Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and crashed into Potomac River, in Washington, U.S. January 30, 2025. .REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
Today01:05 PM
Denise Calnan

Flight paths of both airplane and helicopter ‘were not unusual’ – press conference hears

Officials have emphasised that the flight paths of both aircraft prior to the collision were not unusual.

“Everything was standard in the lead up to the crash. Now, obviously, something happened here. You’ll get more details as this investigation moves forward, we’ll learn what happened,” said Mr Duffy.

He said the aircraft were both following a standard flight path, but that “something went wrong here”.

He said there was “not a breakdown in communication” between the aircraft.

Maeve McTaggart

Today12:58 PM
Denise Calnan

US ‘has the safest airspace in the world’ – Transport Secretary

Asked whether the American public can be assured that the US has the “safest airspace in the world”, Secretary for Transport Sean Duffy said: “Absolutely, yes we do.”

“We have early indicators of what happened here and I can tell you with confidence, we have the safest airspace in the world,” he said.

Maeve McTaggart

Today12:52 PM
Denise Calnan

‘We don’t believe there are any survivors’

The rescue operation at the scene of the crash on the Potomac River has transitioned into to a recovery operation, as it is not believed there are any survivors.

There have so far been 27 people recovered from the American Airlines flight, with one recovered from the military helicopter.

Speaking at a press conference to provide an update on the incident, officials confirmed that it is still not known why the helicopter travelled into the path of the American Airlines aircraft.

Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser thanked first responders who “ran towards danger, went into a frigid river and worked through the night” in “tough and heartbreaking conditions”.

The Secretary of Transport Sean Duffy said it was a clear night in DC, with the helicopter travelling in a standard flight pattern.

The American Airlines flight was also in a standard flight pattern to land at the nearby airport.

He said there was nothing unusual about how both aircraft were travelling and the aircraft wreckage is currently being recovered from waist-deep the Potomac River, after which they will be analysed.

He said the US Government and officials “will not rest” until there are answers for the public about what happened as they are eager to provide reassurance to Americans.

DC Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly confirmed that his teams have recovered 27 bodies from the plane, and one from the helicopter.

“We are now at a point where we are switching from a rescue operation to a recovery operation,” he said.

“We don’t believe there are any survivors from this accident.”

He said the District Office of the Medical Examiner is focused on “reuniting these people with their loved ones”.

Maeve McTaggart

Today12:43 PM
Denise Calnan
Rescuers on boats work as the sun rises at the site of the crash in the Potomac River after a Black Hawk helicopter and an American Eagle flight 5342 approaching Reagan Washington National Airport collided and crashed outside Washington, U.S., January 30, 2025.
Rescuers on boats work as the sun rises at the site of the crash in the Potomac River after a Black Hawk helicopter and an American Eagle flight 5342 approaching Reagan Washington National Airport collided and crashed outside Washington, U.S., January 30, 2025. .REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
Today12:43 PM
Denise Calnan
A United States Park police officer works at Potomac Park, near the Potomac River, where American Eagle flight 5342 crashed after colliding with a Black Hawk helicopter while approaching Reagan Washington National Airport, in Washington, U.S., January 30, 2025.
A United States Park police officer works at Potomac Park, near the Potomac River, where American Eagle flight 5342 crashed after colliding with a Black Hawk helicopter while approaching Reagan Washington National Airport, in Washington, U.S., January 30, 2025. .REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz
Today12:37 PM
Denise Calnan

Official press conference to begin in next few minutes in Washington DC

Denise Calnan
Today12:37 PM
Denise Calnan
A person walks near the site of the wreckage of the American Eagle flight 5342, after it collided with a Black Hawk helicopter while approaching Reagan Washington National Airport and crashed into the Potomac River, outside Washington, U.S., January 30, 2025.
A person walks near the site of the wreckage of the American Eagle flight 5342, after it collided with a Black Hawk helicopter while approaching Reagan Washington National Airport and crashed into the Potomac River, outside Washington, U.S., January 30, 2025. .REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz
Today12:33 PM
Denise Calnan
Rescuers on boats work, as the sun rises, at the site of the crash after a Black Hawk helicopter collided with the American Eagle flight 5342, which was approaching Reagan Washington National Airport, and crashed into the Potomac River, outside Washington, U.S., January 30, 2025
REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
Today12:05 PM
Denise Calnan
Official press conference to be held at 12.30GMT 
Today11:52 AM
Denise Calnan
Rescue boats work at the site of the wreckage of the American Eagle flight 5342, after it collided with a Black Hawk helicopter while approaching Reagan Washington National Airport and crashed into the Potomac River, outside Washington, U.S., January 30, 2025.
Rescue boats work at the site of the wreckage of the American Eagle flight 5342, after it collided with a Black Hawk helicopter while approaching Reagan Washington National Airport and crashed into the Potomac River, outside Washington, U.S., January 30, 2025. .REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz
Today11:52 AM
Denise Calnan
A man walks at the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, after the American Eagle flight 5342 collided with a Black Hawk helicopter while approaching the airport and crashed into the Potomac River, in Arlington, Virginia, U.S., January 30, 2025.
A man walks at the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, after the American Eagle flight 5342 collided with a Black Hawk helicopter while approaching the airport and crashed into the Potomac River, in Arlington, Virginia, U.S., January 30, 2025. .REUTERS/Carlos Barria
Today11:51 AM
Denise Calnan

Ice-skaters on board were returning from camp following event in Kansas 

The skaters on board were returning from a camp following an event in Wichita, governing body U.S. Figure Skating said.

“We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts,” it said.

Russian media said Shishkova and Naumov, who were married and working as coaches, were returning from Wichita with a group of young skaters.

Russia’s Mash news outlet published a list of 13 skaters, many of them the children of Russian emigres to the U.S., who it said were believed to have been on the plane.

The Kremlin offered condolences to the families of Russians killed and said there were no plans for contacts for now between President Vladimir Putin and Trump.

Reuters

Today11:39 AM
Denise Calnan

What we know about the final moments of the plane and helicopter before fatal crash

Investigators will try to piece together the aircrafts’ final moments before their collision, including contact with air traffic controllers as well as a loss of altitude by the passenger jet.

American Airlines flight 5342 was inbound to Reagan National at an altitude of about 400 feet and a speed of about 140 miles per hour when it suffered a rapid loss of altitude over the Potomac River, according to data from its radio transponder.

The Canadian-made Bombardier CRJ-701 twin-engine jet was manufactured in 2004 and can be configured to carry up to 70 passengers.

A few minutes before landing, air traffic controllers asked the arriving commercial jet if it could land on the shorter Runway 33 at Reagan National and the pilots said they were able.

Controllers then cleared the plane to land on Runway 33. Flight tracking sites showed the plane adjust its approach to the new runway.

Less than 30 seconds before the crash, an air traffic controller asks the helicopter if it has the arriving plane in sight. The controller makes another radio call to the helicopter moments later: “PAT 25 pass behind the CRJ.”

Seconds after that the two aircraft collide.

The plane’s radio transponder stopped transmitting about 2,400 feet short of the runway, roughly over the middle of the river.

The tower immediately began diverting other aircraft from Reagan.

Video from an observation camera at the nearby Kennedy Centre showed two sets of lights consistent with aircraft appearing to join in a fireball.

PA