National Security Advisor Mike Waltz confirmed on Thursday that at least 30 bodies have been recovered from the Potomac River after a Black Hawk helicopter collided with a commercial Bombardier airplane on Wednesday night near Reagan International Airport (DCA) in Washington, DC.
The search and rescue operation transitioned into a recovery mission at 4 a.m. Thursday as no survivors had been found. Many passengers were discovered underwater, still strapped to their seats.
The flight, which originated in Wichita, Kansas, carried several U.S. figure skaters, including two world champions, who had participated in the U.S. Figure Skating Championships.
Russian figure skaters were also aboard after attending a juvenile training session, according to the New York Times.
Waltz confirmed that the Black Hawk was on a routine training flight. In response to the tragedy, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem deployed all available Coast Guard personnel to assist in search and recovery efforts.
National Security Advisor Mike Waltz tells us 30 bodies have been recovered, to his knowledge no VIPs on board helicopter, and he was in the situation room until late. pic.twitter.com/ele96xNw1H
— Kellie Meyer (@KellieMeyerNews) January 30, 2025
“We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts. We will continue to monitor the situation and will release more information as it becomes available,” U.S. Figure Skating said in a statement.
🚨#BREAKING: Shared to me anonymously shows the Playback from official Air Traffic Control radar
📌#Washington | #DC
Watch as exclusive playback, sent anonymously by @avgeekjake to Rawsalerst, reveals official Air Traffic Control radar footage displaying the Collision Alert.… pic.twitter.com/s2SvT2OTPJ
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) January 30, 2025
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated that both aircraft followed standard flight patterns before the crash. “It was, I would say, standard communication, so there was not a breakdown, if that’s your question, in communication between the military helicopter and the American Airlines flight. There was communication between the aircraft and the tower.”
First 6 victims of Flight 5342 have been identified by officials: 1. Spencer Lane 2. Christine Lane (Spencer’s mom) 3. Jinna Han 4. Jin Han (Jinna’s mom) 5. Vadim Naumov (coach) 6. Evgenia Shishkova (coach) All 6 were linked to The Skating Club of Boston
The commercial plane, carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, was on its final approach when it was struck by a Black Hawk helicopter conducting a training exercise with three personnel on board.
Air Traffic Control had instructed the helicopter to move out of the plane’s path and pass behind it, but instead, the two aircraft collided, causing a fiery explosion. Both aircraft crashed into the Potomac River, resulting in a devastating loss of life.