An American Airlines jet with 60 passengers and four crew members aboard collided Wednesday with an Army helicopter while landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington, prompting a large search-and-rescue operation in the nearby Potomac River.
There was no immediate word on casualties or the cause of the collision, but takeoffs and landings from the airport near Washington were halted as helicopters from law enforcement agencies across the region flew over the scene in search of survivors.
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Rescuers Now Working to Recover the Dead
Michael Waltz, President Donald Trump’s national security advisor, said on Fox News Channel, that at “about 4 a.m., we transitioned from response to recovery.”
Asked if that was everyone aboard, Waltz said, “That’s what it’s looking like.”
Waltz’s comments that suggests first responders are now working to recover the dead from the crash.
Families Anxious for News for Those on AA Flight
Hamaad Raza is waiting for news from authorities about the fate of his wife, who he said was among 60 passengers on the American Airlines flight from Wichita.
Raza said he was waiting for the plane when his wife texted that her flight was 20 minutes from landing.
When his messages failed to be delivered he became concerned.
“That’s when I realized something might be up,” Raza told WUSA-TV.
His 26-year-old wife, who he didn’t name, had flown to Wichita, Kansas, for work.
“I’m just praying that somebody’s pulling her out of the river as we speak,” Raza said. “That’s all I can pray for.”
Kremlin Confirms Former Champion Russian Skaters Were Onboard
The Kremlin has confirmed that Russian figure skaters, as well as other Russian nationals, were on the American Airlines plane that crashed into the Potomac River near Washington, DC.
Spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed to reporters Thursday that Russian figure skaters Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, who won the pairs title at the 1994 world championships and competed at the Winter Olympics twice, were aboard the plane.
“Unfortunately, we see that this sad information is being confirmed. There were other fellow citizens there. Bad news today from Washington. We are sorry and send condolences to the families and friends who lost those of our fellow citizens who died in the plane crash,” he said.
He did not give details on how many fatalities there were.
Shishkova and Naumov are listed as professional pairs coaches on the website of the Skating Club of Boston. Their son, Maxim Naumov, is a competitive figure skater for the U.S.
Rescuers Search in Near Freezing River Water for Survivors
Hundreds of rescuers were searching the frigid waters of the Potomac River for any survivors of the plane crash.
Images showed boats around a partly submerged wing and what appeared to be the mangled wreckage of the plane’s fuselage.
Helicopters flew overhead with powerful search lights scanning the murky waters, while emergency vehicles lit up the banks of the Potomac in a long line of blinking red lights.
The water temperature was just above freezing.
Group of Figure Skaters and Coaches Were on Jet
Passengers on the jet included a group of figure skaters, their coaches and family members who were returning from a development camp held after the national U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, U.S. Figure Skating said in a statement.
The organization confirmed that “several members of the skating community” were on the flight. It did not provide more details.
“We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts,” the organization said. “We will continue to monitor the situation and will release more information as it becomes available.”
‘We Don’t Know Yet,’ Fire Chief Says of Possible Survivors
Officials offered few details on the status of the victims as they concluded their early-morning press briefing Thursday.
“I can’t say anything about the rescue operation right now,” said Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser, as reporters continue to press for updates on the passengers.
She also declined to comment on the condition of aircraft, which remains submerged in the Potomac River.
Asked if there are any survivors, Fire and EMS Chief John A. Donnelly, responded: “We don’t know yet. But we’re working.”
Officials Stress Dark, Cold Conditions as 300 Respond
Speaking alongside other local and national officials in a press conference, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser noted the cold, dark conditions faced as rescue efforts continue after the midair collision.
John Donnelly, head of DC Fire and EMS, said 300 responders were on the ground in a response that started at 8:58 p.m.
Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), who represents the state from which the American Eagle flight originated, said he had been a frequent passenger on the flight.
“I lobbied for that flight to exist, which it has been for a year,” he said.
More briefings are expected once day breaks, shortly before 7 a.m. local time.
No Casualties Confirmed in First Press Conference
At an initial press conference on the collision, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser would not confirm the number of casualties, and told reporters that both the plane and the helicopter involved were in the water.
Bowser told The Epoch Times that Potomac River traffic has been closed and that the incident will not affect either Dulles International Airport or Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, two other frequent destinations for Washington-bound travelers.
Trump Says Incident Appeared Preventable
On Truth Social, President Donald Trump said in further comments that the incident appeared to be preventable.
“The airplane was on a perfect and routine line of approach to the airport. The helicopter was going straight at the airplane for an extended period of time. It is a clear night, the lights on the plane were blazing, why didn’t the helicopter go up or down, or turn,” he wrote.
“Why didn’t the control tower tell the helicopter what to do instead of asking if they saw the plane. This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented. NOT GOOD!!!”
Earlier, he said he had been briefed on the accident and thanked first responders for their efforts.
Recently confirmed members of President Donald Trump’s cabinet also commented on the tragedy.
Sean Duffy, newly confirmed as secretary of transportation, wrote on X that he had instructed the Federal Aviation Administration and his department “to provide full support to the [National Transportation Safety Board] and all responding agencies and authorities.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem wrote on the same site that U.S. Coast Guard resources were being deployed.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who now supervises the Army, wrote that the Pentagon was “poised to assist if needed.”
Epoch Times reporters Jackson Richman, Nathan Worcester and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
