By Sarah Baafi
A devastating accident unfolded on January 29, 2025, when an American Airlines regional jet collided mid-air with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The crash resulted in both aircraft plummeting into the icy waters of the Potomac River, leading to a massive search and rescue operation.
CBS News has stated that at least 18 people have been confirmed dead. The impact of the collision reportedly broke the passenger plane into multiple pieces, with the helicopter also sinking nearby. “We don’t know if there are any survivors,” stated Washington’s fire chief, John Donnelly, emphasizing the complexity of the ongoing rescue efforts under challenging night-time conditions.
Eyewitness accounts described a catastrophic scene. “It looked to me like a giant Roman candle, sparks shooting from the head of the plane down to the tail,” recounted bystander Ari Schulman. This visual was corroborated by video footage that captured the moment of impact, creating a fireball in the night sky.
President Donald Trump expressed his condolences and appreciation for first responders’ efforts: “May God bless their souls… I appreciate the remarkable work being performed by our first responders,” he said during a briefing on the incident. Meanwhile, Kansas Senator Roger Marshall remarked on the gravity of the situation: “When one person dies it’s a tragedy, but when many, many, many people die it’s an unbearable sorrow”.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have initiated investigations into this catastrophic event as rescue operations continue in hopes of recovering any remaining victims.
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