Collision Details: American Airlines Flight 5342, en route from Wichita, Kansas (ICT) to Washington, D.C. (DCA), collided mid-air with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan Washington National Airport Wednesday night. Both aircraft plunged into the icy Potomac River.Aircraft and Passengers: The American Airlines flight, operated by PSA Airlines under the American Eagle regional brand, was a Canadair Regional Jet 700 (CRJ-700), carrying 60 passengers and 4 crew members, including two pilots and two flight attendants. No survivors have been pulled from the wreckage. The Black Hawk, on a training mission, was carrying three soldiers.Casualties: NBC’s Washington affiliate News4 reported that over 30 bodies had been recovered from the river. Emergency response teams continue to work under dangerous conditions, with over 300 responders on the scene. The cold and windy weather complicates the ongoing search, which could take days.Figure Skating Community Affected: Several figure skaters, coaches, and family members were on board the plane, returning from a training camp following the national championships held in Wichita. Russian nationals, including figure skaters, were also confirmed among the passengers.Search & Rescue: Washington’s Fire Chief, John Donnelly, described the conditions as “highly complex.” Search-and-rescue teams are battling hypothermic risks as temperatures dip below freezing, making recovery efforts even more challenging.US Safety Record Impact: This incident marks the first fatal crash involving a U.S. commercial airline since 2009, ending one of the safest periods in U.S. aviation history. The most recent fatal crash occurred on February 12, 2009, when Colgan Air Flight 3407 crashed, killing 50 people.Black Box Recovery: CBS News confirmed that a dive team had recovered one of the aircraft’s black boxes, which will be critical in the ongoing investigation into the cause of the crash.
As the investigation continues, officials are focused on identifying the cause and supporting those affected by this devastating tragedy.
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