DC plane crash live updates: Figure skaters, coaches aboard flight that crashed

Figure skaters and coaches returning from the national championships were aboard the American Airlines flight that collided with a Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport on Wednesday, the U.S. Figure Skating organization confirmed.

“U.S. Figure Skating can confirm that several members of our skating community were sadly aboard American Airlines Flight 5342, which collided with a helicopter yesterday evening in Washington, D.C.” the organization said in a statement. “These athletes, coaches, and family members were returning home from the National Development Camp held in conjunction with the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas.”

The statement went on to say: “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.”

Some 19 aircraft that were in the air and due to land at Reagan National Airport had to be diverted after the mid-air collision of a regional American Airlines jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter, according to an airports official

The diverted flights landed at Dulles International Airport in Virginia, said Jack Potter, president and CEO of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, who spoke at an early Thursday morning press briefing.

Reagan National will be closed until at least 11 a.m. Thursday, but the situation is fluid, Potter said

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said an immediate investigation has been launched after the mid-air collision of an American Airlines jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport on Wednesday.

“Absolutely tragic,” Hegseth posted on X. “Search and rescue efforts still ongoing. Prayers for all impacted souls, and their families.”

President Donald Trump released a statement on social media about the jet-helicopter crash over the Potomac River seeming to question the actions of the helicopter pilots and Air Traffic Control.

“It is a CLEAR NIGHT, the lights on the plane were blazing, why didn’t the helicopter go up or down, or turn,” Trump posted on his platform Truth Social. “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!!!”

According to radio traffic, Air Traffic Control at the airport advised the helicopter of the plane’s approach and asked the helicopter pilots to confirm they had the plane in sight, which is standard procedure.

Investigators will work to understand what went wrong.

In somber remarks at a news conference early Thursday morning, Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall suggested he feared the passengers and crew aboard a regional American Airlines jet and a Black Hawk helicopter that collided were lost.

“When one person dies, it’s a tragedy,” Marshall said. “But when many, many, many people die, it’s an unbearable sorrow … It’s really hard when you lose, you know, probably over 60 Kansans, simultaneously.”

Speaking of the pilots, flight attendants and military personnel, Marshall added, “All those lives are so valuable, and it is such a tragedy that we lost them.”

Officials have not publicly confirmed any fatalities. There were 64 people aboard the jet and three aboard the helicopter.

Fellow Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran said he knows the flight pattern of Flight 5342 well.

I’ve flown it many times myself,” Moran said, adding that he lobbied American Airlines to add direct, nonstop flight service from Wichita to Reagan National.

Divers and boats are searching the dark, frigid waters of the Potomac River hours after a Black Hawk helicopter collided with a jet approaching Reagan National Airport and both aircraft crashed into the water.

Officials did not provide an update on whether anyone had been pulled from the water or taken to the hospital during an early morning news conference about 1 a.m. Thursday.

D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department Chief John Donnelly said the search-and-rescue effort would continue through the night in very difficult conditions.

“The conditions out there are extremely rough,” Donnelly said. “It’s cold. They’re dealing with relatively windy conditions.”

Three emergency care providers in the Washington, D.C., region have confirmed with ABC News that they have not yet received any patients from the crash.

Inova Fairfax said its “hospitals are prepared to care for any patients from the tragic incident at DCA” just before midnight on Wednesday. “Our hearts are with all those affected,” the medical provider also said in its statement to ABC News.

“At this time, we have not received any patients,” VHC Health, formerly the Virginia Hospital Center, said in a statement at midnight on Wednesday.

“The crash at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is a sad and shocking tragedy and our thoughts are with all those impacted by this incident. We are working directly with the Arlington and Metropolitan Police Department, Fire, and EMS teams and all authorities,” VHC Health said, adding, “VHC Health is prepared to assist and support first responders as these agencies continue their emergency response.”

“We did not receive anyone from the plane collision,” a representative from MedStar Health confirmed with ABC News.

-ABC News’ Youri Benadjaoud and Eric Strauss

American Airlines CEO Robert Isom released a video statement about the crash of Flight 5342 over the Potomac River on Wednesday night as it approached Reagan National Airport.

“First and most importantly I’d like to express our deep sorrow about these events,” Isom said.

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He said the airline is fully cooperating with the National Transportation Safety Board and working with federal, state and local authorities on the response to the crash. The airline is sending a “go team” to D.C. and Isom said he will join them shortly and that the

“We want to learn everything we can about today’s events,” Isom said. “That work will take time.”

The U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter that collided with American Airlines Flight 5342 over the Potomac River was on a training flight at the time, according to Heather Chairez, spokesperson for Joint Task Force-National Capital Region.

“We can confirm that the aircraft involved in tonight’s incident was an Army UH-60 helicopter from Bravo Company, 12th Aviation Battalion, out of Davison Army Airfield, Fort Belvoir during a training flight. We are working with local officials and will provide additional information once it becomes available.”

-ABC News’ Luis Martinez

There are confirmed fatalities from the collision of American Airlines Flight 5342 and the U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River.

Several bodies have been pulled from the Potomac River crash site, according to two law enforcement sources familiar with the ongoing operation.

So far, no survivors have been rescued from the water, the sources said.

-ABC News’ Aaron Katersky

The Wichita National Airport has activated an incident and support team to help within the terminal to provide families with information, according to Jesse Romo, Wichita’s director of airports.

Romo called the crash “devastating” during a press briefing tonight and said he believes there are family members of those aboard the American Airlines flight already at the airport seeking any updates.

Direct flights from Wichita National Airport to DCA launched a year ago, Romo said.

The FBI Washington Field Office said in a statement that it’s sending its National Capital Response Squad “in support of our law enforcement and public safety partners.”

-ABC News’ Jack Date

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin said “extensive resources are fully supporting the search and rescue efforts” following the crash.

“First responders from across Northern Virginia, DC and Maryland mobilized quickly,” he said on X. “I ask everyone to pray for the passengers, crews, their families, and brave first responders.

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport will be closed until at least Friday at 5 a.m., per the FAA.

2:14

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport closed until Friday morning

ABC News’ Jay O’Brien reports from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport after the FAA said it would be closed until at least Friday at 5 a.m.

ABCNews.com

American Airlines Flight 5342 was involved in the collision, the airline said. The flight was operated by PSA Airlines.

The airline confirmed that 60 passengers and four crew members were on board.

Those who may have loved ones on the flight can call 800-679-8215, American said.

“Our concern is for the passengers and crew on board the aircraft,” the airline said. “We are in contact with authorities and assisting with emergency response efforts.”

President Donald Trump released a statement about the crash.

“I have been fully briefed on the terrible accident which just took place at Reagan National Airport. May God Bless their souls. Thank you for the incredible work being done by our first responders. I am monitoring the situation and will provide more details as they arise,” he said.

Multiple sources have confirmed to ABC News that 60 passengers and four crew were aboard the jet.

-ABC News’ Katherine Faulders and Aaron Katersky

This marks the first major commercial crash in the United States since the Colgan Air crash in Buffalo, New York, in 2009, when dozens of people were killed.

The last fatality on a plane was when a woman was partially sucked out of a window during a Southwest flight in 2018.

-ABC News’ Sam Sweeney

The Black Hawk helicopter involved in the crash was based at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, according to an Army official.

“We are working with local officials and will provide additional information once it becomes available,” the official said.

-ABC News’ Luis Martinez

The water temperature in the Potomac River is approximately 36 degrees amid the search and rescue effort.

The air temperature at the time of the crash was 50 degrees with winds gusting 25 to 30 mph.

1:57

Search and rescue underway following plane crashing into the Potomac River near DC

The water temperature in the Potomac River is approximately 36 degrees amid the search and rescue effort. Multiple sources have confirmed to ABC News that 60 passengers and four crew were aboard.

ABCNews.com

There were three Army soldiers aboard the Black Hawk helicopter, according to a defense official.

That would be the standard size of the crew for a helicopter of this type.

-ABC News’ Luis Martinez

No senior Army leaders aboard the Black Hawk helicopter that collided with the regional aircraft, a defense official with knowledge of the investigation told ABC News.

-ABC News’ Luis Martinez

Sean Duffy, who was confirmed as the secretary for the Department of Transportation on Tuesday, added a post acknowledging the crash on X.

In the post, he noted that he was posting from the headquarters for the Federal Aviation Authority in Washington, D.C.

“I am on site at the FAA HQ and closely monitoring the situation,” Duffy wrote.

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly said she is “actively” in contact with authorities regarding the crash.

“My thoughts go out to those involved. I will share more information as it becomes available,” she said on X.

The Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet was carrying roughly 60 passengers, according to Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall, who called the collision “devastating news of what can only be described as nothing short of a nightmare.”

The plane is capable of carrying up to 70 passengers.

Vice President JD Vance released a statement on X saying that he is monitoring the situation.

“Please say a prayer for everyone involved in the mid-air collision near Reagan airport this evening,” he said.

Sen. Ted Cruz, the chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, said there are fatalities in the collision.

“While we don’t yet know how many on board were lost, we know there are fatalities,” Cruz said on X. “Please join Heidi and me in praying for all involved as the search and rescue is underway.”

A PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet collided in midair with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter while on approach at Reagan Washington National Airport around 9 p.m., according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

The airline was operating Flight 5342 for American Airlines, according to the FAA.

The military aircraft was a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter, according to two U.S. officials.

The plane had departed from Wichita, Kansas, the FAA said.

The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that a military helicopter collided with a regional jet near Reagan National Airport outside Washington, D.C.

“It appears that a military helicopter collided with a regional jet at DCA airport right here in Washington, D.C.,” Leavitt said in an appearance on Fox News Wednesday night. “That’s all I can confirm at this point in time, and I can just say that the thoughts and the prayers of the entire Trump administration are with all those that are involved.”