President Donald Trump blamed diversity, equity, and inclusion policies for the deadly collision between the Army Black Hawk helicopter that collided with an American Airlines regional jet in Washington, D.C.
“You have to be the highest intellect and psychologically superior people were allowed to qualify for air traffic controllers,” he said, before quoting articles regarding the Federal Aviation Administration’s DEI push before he took office.
“Brilliant people have to be in those positions,” the president said, later saying diversity hiring “could have been” linked to the crash. Earlier, he said officials weren’t sure what led to the collision, in which 67 people died.
Trump also placed blame on his predecessors: “I put safety first. Obama, Biden and the Democrats put policy first and they put politics at a level that nobody’s ever seen.”
The military helicopter, flown by “fairly experienced” crew members, was conducting “a required annual night evaluation," Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said.
At least 28 bodies have been found as of Thursday morning.
All flights in and out of Washington, D.C.’s Ronald Reagan National Airport were resumed at 11 a.m. Thursday. Video footage from the nearby Kennedy Center appears to show the aircraft conjoining in a fireball.
American Airlines said in a statement: “If you believe you may have loved ones on board Flight 5342, call American Airlines at 800-679-8215. Those calling from outside the U.S. can visit news.aa.com for additional phone numbers. Family members in Canada, Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands can call 800-679-8215 directly.”
Key Points
- No survivors are expected, D.C. Fire and EMS chief says
- Members of the Skating Club of Boston among passengers
- American Airlines jet crashes into Black Hawk helicopter on approach to DC airport
- Reagan National Airport to be closed until 11am on Thursday
Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg slams Trump's claims as 'despicable'
17:50 , Kelly RissmanAt Thursday’s briefing, Trump tried to link DEI measures and Democrats to the aviation crash.
He specifically called out Pete Buttigieg, the secretary of transportation under Biden.
Buttigieg pushed back.
Despicable. As families grieve, Trump should be leading, not lying. We put safety first, drove down close calls, grew Air Traffic Control, and had zero commercial airline crash fatalities out of millions of flights on our watch.
— Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) January 30, 2025
President Trump now oversees the military and the…
Maryland Senator calls on Trump to apologize for 'grotesque' remarks
17:43 , Kelly RissmanWe've just experienced a great tragedy, and the President of the United States has already rushed to politicize it — jumping to outrageous conclusions and undermining ongoing investigations.
— Senator Chris Van Hollen (@ChrisVanHollen) January 30, 2025
His comments were grotesque and outrageous and he owes the American people an apology.
Six members of a figure skating club from Massachusetts, including two teenagers, are among those who died on board the doomed American Airlines flight that crashed into an Army Black Hawk helicopter in Washington, D.C.
The passenger jet carrying 64 people crashed mid-air with the helicopter and plunged into the Potomac River near Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday evening.
All 67 people on board both aircraft that crashed down into the Potomac River are feared dead, Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly said at a briefing on Thursday, and at least 28 bodies have now been recovered from the water.
Rhian Lubin and Tara Cobham have the story.
Washington DC plane crash: World champion figure skaters and coaches among victims
Vice President J.D. Vance echoes Trump's DEI rhetoric
17:30 , Kelly RissmanSpeaking at the Thursday morning briefing, the vice president underscored President Trump’s blame on FAA’s diversity, equity and inclusion policies.
He said: "We want to hire the best people, because we want the best people at air traffic control, and we want to make sure we have enough people at air traffic control who are actually competent to do the job.”
Trump blames diversity and inclusion for crash that claimed 67 lives
17:20 , Kelly RissmanSearch and rescue crew face dangerously cold Potomac River waters
17:15 , Kelly RissmanCrews working to retrieve the passengers of the American Airlines jet and the army helicopter that collided and crashed into the Potomac on Wednesday night have to contend with the dangerously cold waters of the Potomac River.
Water temperatures between 33 and 36 degrees were reported near the crash site shortly after the incident, which is believed to have taken the lives of all who were involved. Just a degree below is considered to be freezing.
“At these frigid water temperatures, the human body’s core temperature quickly drops. Exhaustion or unconsciousness can occur in as little as 15 to 30 minutes,” AccuWeather Senior Director of Forecast Operations Dan DePodwin explained in a statement.
Julia Musto has the story.
Search and rescue crew face dangerously cold Potomac River waters
Hope ends for finding survivors as investigators say 67 feared dead
17:00 , Kelly RissmanEmergency crews who waded through the frigid waters of the Potomac River through the night are now shifting to a recovery operation after an American Airlines plane carrying 64 people collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Washington DC’s Ronald Reagan National Airport.
The passenger flight, carrying 64 people from Wichita, Kansas, collided mid-air with a military helicopter carrying four around 9 p.m. on Wednesday.
No survivors are expected, D.C. Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly said at a Thursday morning press conference.
Emergency responders conducted their rescue mission through the night in what D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser described as “tough and heartbreaking conditions,” referring to ice-covered water and heavy winds. The operation has now shifted to a recovery mission.
So far, 28 bodies have been recovered — one from the helicopter and 27 from the American Airlines flight.
Read the full story.
Hope ends for finding survivors after plane crashes into military helicopter
President Trump claims FAA's DEI policies could be linked to collision
16:59 , Kelly RissmanThe president blamed the federal agency’s diversity, equity and inclusion policies days after he ordered to terminate DEI policies in federal agencies.
“The FAA is actively recruiting workers who suffer severe intellectual disabilities, psychiatric problems, and other mental and physical conditions under a diversity and inclusion hiring initiative spelled out on the agency’s website,” Trump said at Thursday morning’s briefing.
The program allowed for the hiring of individuals with a number of conditions, including hearing and vision issues, paralysis, epilepsy and “dwarfism.”
Trump said air traffic controllers needed to be “psychologically superior.”
“They have to be talented, naturally talented geniuses,” he said. “You can’t have regular people doing their job.”
WATCH: Trump says 'we have strong opinions' on what led to deadly DC plane crash
16:53 , Kelly RissmanNot clear what led to crash: Trump
16:33 , Kelly Rissman“We did not know what led to this crash, but we have some very strong opinions and ideas, and I think we’ll probably state those opinions now, because over the years, I’ve watched as things like this happen,” Trump said.
“We think we have some pretty good ideas, but we’ll find out how this disaster occurred, and we’ll ensure that nothing like this ever happens again,” the president continued.
Trump used the briefing to attack his predecessors
16:30 , Kelly RissmanTrump used the press conference on Thursday morning to slam his predecessors, Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
Talking about requirements for air traffic control workers, Trump said: “I put safety first. Obama, Biden and the Democrats put policy first and they put politics at a level that nobody’s ever seen.”
First Lady Melania Trump offers condolences to loved ones of those killed in tragedy
16:30 , Kelly RissmanMy heart goes out to those impacted by last night’s terrible tragedy. I pray for those who so sadly lost their lives, their families & loved ones, & the first responders who have worked tirelessly through the night. May they find strength and solace in this difficult time.
— First Lady Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) January 30, 2025
President Trump gives update in 'an hour of anguish for our nation'
16:26 , Kelly RissmanDonald Trump walked into the briefing room at 11.20 a.m. and requested a moment of silence for the victims.
“I speak to you this morning in an hour of anguish for our nation,” he said. “Real tragedy.”
Emergency crews leveraged “every asset at our disposal” to rescue the victims.
On behalf of himself and First Lady Melania Trump, “our hearts are shattered,” he said. He offered prayers to victims’ families.
The cause of the collision is still unknown, he said.
FAA left with no leader after administrator resigned earlier this month
16:21 , Kelly RissmanMike Whitaker, the FAA administrator under the Biden administration, resigned before Trump returned to the White House, meaning there’s a vacancy in the post amid an aviation disaster.
Back in September, Elon Musk, Trump’s “First Buddy” and head of DOGE, urged Whitaker to step down.
Whitaker announced in December that he would resign on January 20, the day Trump was inaugurated.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who was sworn in Tuesday, oversees the FAA.
Former President Joe Biden is 'praying' for family of victims
16:15 , Kelly RissmanJill and I are praying for the families of the victims who tragically lost their lives in the plane and helicopter crash near DCA. We are immensely grateful to the brave first responders and emergency personnel on the scene.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) January 30, 2025
Aircraft collision 'seems to be preventable', Trump's Army Secretary pick says at confirmation hearing
15:58 , APDuring his confirmation hearing Thursday, Secretary of the Army nominee Daniel Driscoll said that from what he’s seen, the air collision is “an accident that seems to be preventable.”
He told senators he would work with the Senate Armed Services Committee to examine operations: “I think we might need to look at where is an appropriate time to take a training risk, and it may not be near an airport like Reagan.”
President Donald Trump about to give press conference
15:55 , Kelly RissmanThe president will be giving a briefing in the aftermath of the crash between the American Airlines regional jet and the U.S. Army helicopter.
Watch the briefing live here:
Watch live: Trump speaks after American Airlines plane and military helicopter crash
Flight operations to resume at Reagan National Airport soon
15:50 , Kelly RissmanReagan National Airport will resume flight operations at 11:00am, the airport said in a statement on X.
“All airport roads and terminals are open. Some flights have been delayed or cancelled, so passengers are encouraged to check with their airline for specific flight information,” the statement continued.
At a press conference Thursday morning, Jack Potter, CEO of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, stressed that the airport was determined to be “safe.”
Parts of DMV closed due to debris from collision
15:40 , Kelly RissmanThe debris field from last night’s tragic plane crash has spread into Prince George’s County. We’re closing the plaza and piers at National Harbor today to further assist the search and recovery efforts.
— Prince George's County Executive (@pgcountyexec) January 30, 2025
Somber scene at Reagan National Airport, where flights are about to take off once again
15:38 , Richard Hall in Washington, D.C.Just arrived at the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The scene here at Terminal One is somber.
The screens are showing lots of cancelled flights. Investigators from different agencies - NTSB, Homeland Security, cops and airport staff - outnumber passengers here at the moment.
There appears to be an area curtained off that may be where family members are gathered.
Mayor Muriel Bowser is here coordinating.
Kathy Maxemchuk, a 45-year-old architect from San Francisco who was here on business, was trying to navigate her way through press and police to find her 1 p.m. flight.
“It’s been a little disconcerting since getting to the airport and seeing all the press and the police and all of that.
“It definitely makes it more real and obvious. I'm not feeling worried about my flight necessarily, I know it was just a tragic accident.”
Congressman says he landed at Reagan Airport minutes before deadly collision
15:25 , Kelly RissmanRep. Eric Swalwell said he landed at Reagan National Airport mere minutes before the fatal collision.
The California Democrat had flying from Houston, he told KTVU.
Much needs to be done about managing the “crowded airspace” in the nation’s capital, he told the outlet.
"We have to understand whether the congested air traffic in this region was a part of the cause," the Congressman said. "We also need to understand whether we have enough air travel controllers to deconflict congested areas, and so there's a lot we have to do."
'Our hearts break' for loved ones of DC crash, Obamas say
15:20 , Kelly RissmanOur hearts break for the families who lost loved ones in the tragic plane and helicopter crash at DCA. Michelle and I send our prayers and condolences to everyone who is mourning today, and we’re grateful to the first responders who are doing everything they can to help under…
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) January 30, 2025
President to hold briefing at 11 a.m.
15:16 , Kelly RissmanThe President will hold a press briefing on the aviation disaster at 11:00AM ET in the James S. Brady Briefing Room.
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) January 30, 2025
Two world champion skaters were lost in flight
15:02 , Kelly RissmanFormer world champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were among the passengers on the American Airlines flight flying from Wichita, Kansas to D.C..
The club’s CEO Doug Zeghibe gave a press conference Thursday morning.
The duo won the pairs figure skating event at the 1994 World Championship, according to the club’s website.
He said the club previously experienced a plane crash in the 1960s.
'The helicopter and the plane crashed in the river': Audio from air traffic control describes disaster
15:00 , Kelly RissmanAir traffic control watched in horror on Wednesday night as a passenger jet and a U.S. military helicopter collided near Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington and plunged into the nearby Potomac River.
"The accident happened in the river," a dispatcher said in audio obtained by CBS News. "Both the helicopter and the plane crashed in the river."
Eyewitnesses described the crash creating an explosion visible in the night sky.
Read the story.
Audio from air traffic control describes DC plane crash over Potomac
Hegseth says 'experienced' soldiers were on BlackHawk training flight before fatal collision
14:45 , Kelly RissmanSpeaking about the U.S. Army helicopter, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in a video message Thursday: "It was a fairly experienced crew that was doing a required annual night evaluation.”
He continued: "They did have night vision goggles."
“It’s a tragedy, a horrible loss of life,” Hegseth said, adding that next-of-kin notifications are ongoing.
6 Skating Club of Boston members on board flight that crashed
14:39 , Kelly RissmanSix members of the Skating Club of Boston were on board the plane, AP has confirmed.
Two skaters, two coaches, and two parents were on the deadly flight, NBC 10 first reported.
“This will have long reaching impacts for our community,” CEO Doug Zeghibe said, according to the AP.
Loved ones of those onboard flight urged to call help line
14:30 , Kelly RissmanAmerican Airlines CEO Robert Isom urged friends and family members of those on board Flight 5342 to call the designated help line: 1-800-679-8215.
“We don’t know why” the helicopter entered the path of the American Airlines flight, he said.
President Donald Trump has been briefed
14:26 , Kelly Rissman“I have been fully briefed on the terrible accident which just took place at Reagan National Airport,” the president wrote from his Truth Social account just after 9 a.m. on Thursday.
“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.”
Officials stress that U.S. skies are safest in world
14:20 , Kelly Rissman“We have the safest skies of any country in the world,” Rep. Ron Estes of Kansas said at a press conference in Wichita.
Similarly, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy emphasized at a briefing in D.C. that the U.S. has the “safest air space in the world.”
The cause of the crash is not immediately clear but an investigation is ongoing.
In photos: The aftermath of the deadly collision near Reagan National Airport
14:10 , Kelly Rissman
WATCH: All American Airline passengers feared dead as 28 bodies recovered after crash
14:00 , Kelly RissmanMedal winners narrowly avoided being in deadly crash with other US skaters, says training school head
13:52 , Tara CobhamA skating pair who won medals at the championships narrowly avoided being on the flight with other US skaters that ended in a deadly crash.
Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko, who are skating partners, flew home from the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Kansas on Monday, before traveling on to another competition in Canada, the head of their training school told The Independent.
Jamal Othman, director of The Ice Academy for World's Champions, confirmed the pair are safe, contradicting reports in Russian media that they were feared to have been on board the tragic American Airlines plane.
After winning a number of medals at the competition in Wichita, including two silvers as a pair, Ms Carreira and Mr Ponomarenko competed in London, Ontario on Wednesday, said Mr Othman, who is also a Swiss former competitive figure skater.
U.S. Figure Skating confirmed that the American Airlines plane crashed that night with a number of athletes, coaches and family members on board who were all travelling back from the National Development Camp held in conjunction with the US Figure Skating Championships.
All bodies are expected to be recovered, says D.C. Fire and EMS Chief
13:40 , Kelly RissmanNo one is expected to survive the collision, officials said.
As of Thursday morning, 28 bodies have been found, with 27 from the passenger plane and one from the helicopter.
The D.C. Fire and EMS Chief believed all bodies would be recovered.
"I’m confident that we will do that," John Donnelly said at Thursday’s press conference. "That will take us a little bit of time, though. It may involve some more equipment."
WATCH: Officials say US has 'safest airspace in world' after American Airlines plane and military helicopter crash
13:31 , Kelly RissmanNothing seemed out of the ordinary: DOT Secretary
13:22 , Kelly RissmanBoth the passenger plane and the helicopter were on standard flight paths, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said at a press conference Thursday morning.
“Everything was standard in the lead-up to the crash,” he said.
“Something went wrong here,” he said, but was unable to comment on the matter further.
No breakdown in communication between military helicopter and American Airlines flight, Duffy says
13:17 , James Liddell“There was communication. There was, I would say, standard communication. There was not a breakdown… in communication between the military aircraft and the American Airlines flight. There was communication at the time,” Transportation Secretary, Sean Duffy, told reporters.
//
'America has safest airspace in the world,' Transportation Secretary says
13:09 , James LiddellTransport Secretary Sean Duffy maintains that the U.S. has the safest airspace of any nation in the world.
“We have early indicators of what happened here, and I will tell you with complete confidence, we have the safest airspace in the world,” he told reporters.
'My phone just started blowing up,' Virginia senator says
12:58 , James LiddellVirginia Senator Mark Warner revealed the moment he realized a tragedy had unfolded near the Potomac River.
“On a personal note, I'll just add that, literally, I now know I was coming back from the district, from a dinner to my home...” he began.
“And while I did not see the collision, I wondered... I'd never seen this many red lights streaming toward the airport and across the river in Maryland. My phone started blowing up, and I realized that this accident [was] taking place.”
Airport to reopen at 11 a.m. today
12:55 , James LiddellMetropolitan Washington Airports Authority CEO Jack Carter said that the Ronald Reagan National Airport will reopen later this morning.
“Unfortunately, we weren't able to rescue anyone, but we are in recovery mode right now,” he said.
“And I just want to you know last night, I expressed the fact that we hope to open at 11 o'clock today, and that is still the case.”
'This is devastating,' American Airlines CEO says
12:52 , James LiddellAmerican Airlines CEO Robert Eisen grieved over the victims on board the airline’s flight 5342.
He said the situation “is devastating,” adding: “We are all hurting incredibly.”
Officials work to ID victims
12:49 , James LiddellOfficials are still working to find the remaining bodies, as they working to identify the dead and alert their families.
The Virginia Medical Examiner the Army and Army Medical Examiner are involved in the search and rescue operation.
28 bodies pulled from Potomac as officials believe there's no survivors
12:46 , James LiddellJohn Donnelly, EMS chief in Washington, DC, shared a bleak prognosis as search and rescue crews combed the Potomac river for survivors.
“At this point, we don't believe there are any survivors from this accident, and we have recovered 27 people from the plane and one from the helicopter.”
American Airlines plane's fuselage found 'inverted' in waist-deep water
12:42“We have located the two aircrafts. The fuselage of the American Airlines plane was inverted. It's been located in three different sections,” says US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.
“It's in about waist-deep water. So that recovery is going to go on today,” he added
DC mayor's presser begins
12:38 , James LiddellWashington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser’s press conference at the Reagan National Airport began 7:30 a.m. ET this morning.
She is joined by US Transportation Secretary, Sean Duffy, DC’s EMS Chief John Donnelly and American Airlines’ CEO Robert Eisen, among others.
‘My daughter’s friend and her mom were in the crash’
11:56 , James LiddellA Washington man has shared his heartache after learning that his daughter’s friend and her mother may have been on the American Airlines flight that collided with the Army Black Hawk helicopter in Washington, DC on Wednesday evening.
When asked by Sky News who he knew onboard the CRJ-701ER commuter jet, operated by PSA Airlines, he replied: “My daughter’s friend and her mom.”
“She was on an athletic trip,” the man said of the two potential victims, adding they were Kansas natives. “She was a nice kid.”
At least 19 bodies are believed to have been recovered from the crash site. Sixty-four people were on board the commercial aircraft – including four crew – and another three on the Army helicopter.
Authorities are yet to reveal an official number of deaths or bodies recovered. A media briefing is expected at 7:30 a.m.
Streets closed near Potomac River
11:22 , James LiddellFYI: Effective now, the following street closures have been implemented to support the recovery response efforts at the Potomac River
— DC Police Traffic (@DCPoliceTraffic) January 30, 2025
* Please seek an alternate route or follow the directions provided by MPD~ Closures are subject to change * pic.twitter.com/TRYofI9cKt
Mapped: Charting the aircrafts' path before disastrous collision
11:11 , James LiddellAnalysis: Is flying getting more dangerous?
10:48 , James LiddellWith three fatal events involving passenger jets in five weeks, it is understandable that some people will conclude that risks are increasing, writes The Independent’s travel correspondent, Simon Calder.
In fact, this decade is so far much safer than any previous spell. The three crashes have had entirely different causes, all of which are extremely rare: Azerbaijan Airlines, shot down by Russian anti-aircraft fire over Grozny on Christmas Day.
It was the first flight tragedy involving a passenger jet in 2024
Jeju Air, four days later, crashed in circumstances that have yet to be fully explained but which appear to have involved a bird strike. American Airlines, a mid-air collision in busy airspace.
Lessons will be learned from all of these tragedies and will contribute to future air safety.
The UK and Ireland have the best air-safety records in the world.
The last fatal accident involving a British passenger jet was in the 1980s – the Kegworth disaster.
The safest airline worldwide by pa
Mapped: American Airlines plane collides with army helicopter near DC airport
10:16 , James LiddellAn American Airlines 5342 operating as a PSA Airlines jet collided with a US Army Sikorsky Blackhawk helicopter as both flew close to Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington DC at around 9 p.m. local time Wednesday.
All 67 people on board both aircraft are feared dead, Kansas Senator Roger Marshall said Wednesday night.
None of the helicopter’s three crew were senior Army officials, authorities said.
Close to 20 bodies have been recovered from the water, according to multiple networks.
All flights in and out of Washington, D.C.’s Ronald Reagan National Airport have been grounded until at least 11 a.m. Thursday.
Madeline Sherratt has the details.
Mapped: American Airlines plane collides with US Army helicopter near DC airport
Watch: Witness says plane resembled 'Roman candle'
10:13 , James Liddell
American Airlines crash witness says plane resembled 'Roman candle‘
Analysis: What will investigators be examining?
09:55 , Simon CalderNational Transportation Safety Board investigators will be studying in immense detail the sequence of events that led up to the tragedy.
In many accidents, a sequence of unlikely and unexpected events combine to cause a crash.
There has been much speculation, including from President Trump, about the possible causes. Much of this is unhelpful and distressing.
An American helicopter instructor and former CRJ pilot, Philip Greenspun, has posted some thoughts about what might have gone wrong.
He writes: “A review of the ATC [air-traffic control] recording shows that there was plenty of room for human error.”
Dr Greenspun speculated that the Black Hawk pilots may have said that they could see the approaching aircraft while actually looking at a different plane.
“The most plausible explanation is that the Black Hawk crew and DCA Tower were talking about two different airliners (ie, talking past each other),” he writes.
He later added: “There were some excellent humans with excellent training in the airliner, in the Tower, and in the Black Hawk. Everyone was operating in the most restrictive low-altitude airspace (Class B) that we have in the US and under time-tested rules that have ensured safety despite congestion.
“At the same time, however, we have the limitations of a natural language (English) and the human brain, which may latch onto and commit to the first plausible airliner that it sees.”
The Independent’s veteran travel correspondent Simon Calder will continue to provide an analysis of the incident throughout the morning.
World leaders react
09:43 , James LiddellShocking reports from Washington, D.C., as an American Airlines jet and a military helicopter collided in midair.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) January 30, 2025
Our condolences to the victims' families and loved ones. We can see how the first responders show exceptional dedication during the search-and-rescue operation.…
Australians are thinking of all those affected by the terrible air crash at Reagan Airport in Washington and the tragic loss of life. Our hearts go out to their families and loved ones.
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) January 30, 2025
As first responders work at the scene, we encourage any Australians in need of assistance to…
My deepest condolences on the loss of so many lives in the Washington plane crash. Today we are all with the American people in this tragic moment.
— Donald Tusk (@donaldtusk) January 30, 2025
My thoughts and prayers are with the American people following the horrific crash between a plane and military helicopter in Washington DC.
— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) January 30, 2025
Deepest condolences to all those who lost loved ones in the crash. Also thinking of the first responders working at the scene.
Listen: Harrowing moment air traffic control see American Airlines jet collide with army helicopter
09:32 , James LiddellAnalysis: How common are mid-air collisions?
09:23 , James LiddellThankfully, they are extremely rare, says The Independent’s travel correspondent, Simon Calder.
On average there has been one per year so far this century, most of them involving small private aircraft and – or – helicopters.
All pilots and air-traffic controllers are focused on avoiding other “traffic” in the skies. All large passenger aircraft are equipped with a traffic collision avoidance system, known as TCAS.
If a potential threat is identified, the system will issue a “resolution advisory”. Typically one aircraft will be instructed to climb and the other told to descend. Pilots are required to perform the maneuver specified by the resolution advisory even if it conflicts with instructions from air-traffic controllers.
The Washington tragedy involved a military helicopter, which has very different operational characteristics from a fixed-wing aircraft. It is not known if it was fitted with TCAS, but in any case, the system is inhibited when aircraft are very close to the ground.
Watch: How the mid-air collision unfolded
09:12 , James LiddellWashington, DC mayor sends 'love and prayers' to victims' loved ones
09:01 , James LiddellTonight, as our first responders continue their efforts, we are sending our love and prayers to the families, loved ones, and communities who are experiencing loss during this terrible tragedy.
— Mayor Muriel Bowser (@MayorBowser) January 30, 2025
We will provide our next briefing at 7:30AM at DCA. It will be live on this account.
Analysis: What do we know about the aircraft involved?
08:53 , Simon CalderThe plane was a CRJ-701ER commuter jet operated by PSA Airlines. According to the Aviation Safety Network, the type has not been involved in any previous fatal accidents.
PSA is a subsidiary of American Airlines which operates smaller aircraft on regional flights – a standard arrangement among big US carriers.
The aircraft was 20 years old and fitted with 65 seats. It normally carries two pilots and two cabin crew, which was the case with flight AA5342.
The Independent’s veteran travel correspondent Simon Calder will continue to provide an analysis of the incident throughout the morning.
Analysis: What do we know about Ronald Reagan National Airport?
08:26 , Simon CalderMost international flights to the U.S. capital arrive at Dulles Airport, 20 miles west of the city centre. Other flights from abroad touch down at Baltimore Washington, 30 miles northeast.
Ronald Reagan National Airport is most unusual. It opened in 1941 very close to the centre of Washington – the northern perimeter is just three miles south of the White House.
Being so close, the airport is popular with many travellers, and management says: “Our Runway 01/19 is the busiest in the country.”
In normal operations, the airport handles up to 60 flights per hour. The stipulation is that “mainline” airlines have a maximum of 37 flights; commuter jets, 11; private aircraft 12.
The airport says: “All aircraft movements are solely controlled through the FAA National Airspace System, including the design and implementation of flight procedures and corridors.”
As a result of the proximity to the heart of the government, air traffic control is taken extremely seriously. After the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001 – which included a plane being flown into the Pentagon – the airport was closed for 23 days.
The Independent’s veteran travel correspondent Simon Calder will continue to provide an analysis of the incident throughout the morning.
CCTV appears to show American Airlines and helicopter crash in Washington DC
07:50 , Maroosha MuzaffarAt least 19 aircraft diverted to nearest Dulles International Airport following crash
07:18 , Maroosha MuzaffarAround 19 planes were diverted to Dulles International Airport following the crash near Reagan National Airport, about 20 miles west.
According to flight aviation analytics firm Cirium, there were 858 flights scheduled at Reagan National airport on Wednesday and 869 on Thursday.
The airport will remain closed until at least 11am ET on Thursday, authorities said.
