Authorities are investigating the cause of a midair collision between an American Airlines Bombardier jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, which claimed the lives of 67 people on Wednesday night.
The American Eagle Flight 5342, a Bombardier CRJ700, was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members when it collided with the military helicopter during its approach to Reagan National. The impact sent both aircraft crashing into the Potomac River, leaving no survivors. Among the victims were young figure skaters, travelers from Kansas, and international passengers from Russia, the Philippines, Germany, and China.
Investigators have recovered the plane’s black boxes—its cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder—while the Army is analyzing the helicopter’s recording devices. A preliminary National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report is expected within 30 days.
Despite the catastrophic outcome, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated that both aircraft were following standard flight patterns, with no apparent communication breakdown. However, air traffic control recordings suggest controllers alerted the helicopter to the approaching jet and instructed it to alter course before the collision.
Officials revealed that only one air traffic controller was handling local aircraft movements at the time—a situation deemed “not normal” but acceptable for lower traffic volumes. The U.S. has faced a shortage of air traffic controllers in recent years, leading to mandatory overtime and six-day workweeks at several facilities.
Reagan National’s airspace is particularly congested, serving three major commercial airports and multiple military bases. The airport has witnessed several near-collisions in recent years, including a close call in May 2024.
The crash quickly became a political flashpoint. President Donald Trump, without presenting evidence, suggested federal diversity initiatives may have compromised air safety. Critics accused him of politicizing the tragedy, with NAACP President Derrick Johnson condemning his remarks as divisive.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg dismissed Trump’s claims as “despicable,” emphasizing that the FAA’s hiring policies remained unchanged from Trump’s previous administration.
Meanwhile, American Airlines CEO Robert Isom stated that the regional jet’s pilot had six years of experience, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that the helicopter crew was conducting a routine training flight with night-vision goggles.
Authorities are now analyzing radio transmissions and surveillance footage to determine why the crash occurred despite air traffic control warnings. A chilling moment captured on audio reveals an air traffic controller’s reaction seconds after impact: “I just saw a fireball, and then it was just gone.”
