Washington DC Plane Crash: 30 bodies recovered from river, Russian skating couple among victims — 10 things to know

Washington DC Plane Crash: Multiple bodies have been recovered from the Potomac River in Washington DC after the collision between a passenger jet and a military helicopter. The midair collision occurred as the passenger jet was approaching to land at Reagan. Radio communications between the air traffic control tower and the Black Hawk showed the helicopter crew knew the plane was in the vicinity.

Passengers on the jet included a group of figure skaters, their coaches and family members who were returning from a development camp held after the national US Figure Skating Championships in Wichita. A statement by US Figure Skating confirmed that “several members of the skating community” were on the flight.

Washington DC Plane Crash: Over 30 bodies recovered

According to details shared by an NBC affiliate, more than 30 bodies have been recovered from the freezing-cold Potomac River after the plane crash. American Airlines has confirmed that there were 60 passengers and four crew members on board its jet. Meanwhile, US officials said that the helicopter had been on a training flight with three soldiers.

Hundreds of rescuers search for survivors

Around 300 responders are currently searching the frigid waters of the Potomac River for possible survivors. Visuals shared online showed boats around a partly submerged wing and what appeared to be the mangled wreckage of the plane’s fuselage. Meanwhile, helicopters flew overhead with powerful searchlights scanning the murky waters, and emergency vehicles lit up the banks of the Potomac in a long line of blinking red lights.

‘Freezing cold, complex operation’

Data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, that the Potomac River was at a temperature of 2.2°C on Wednesday. The National Weather Service also reported that wind gusts of up to 25 mph were possible in the area throughout the evening.

“It’s a highly complex operation. The conditions out there are extremely rough for the responders,” said DC Fire Chief John Donnelly. 

Washington DC Plane Crash: Investigators work to piece together ‘final moments’

Investigators are working to piece together the final moments of the two aircrafts — including contact with air traffic controllers and the a loss of altitude by the passenger jet.

Data from the radio transponder indicates that American Airlines Flight 5342 suffered a rapid loss of altitude over the Potomac River while inbound to Reagan National. Pilots had confirmed minutes before the expected arrival that they would be able to land on the shorter Runway 33 — and received clearance from air traffic controllers. Flight tracking sites showed the plane adjust its approach to the new runway.

Less than 30 seconds before the crash, an air traffic controller asked the helicopter if it had the arriving plane in sight. The controller made another radio call to the helicopter moments later: “PAT 25 pass behind the CRJ.” Seconds after that, the two aircraft collided.

US athletes on flight

The American Airlines flight was carrying 60 passengers — with as many as 15 involved in figure skating. US Figure Skating has indicated that athletes, coaches and family members had been returning from the National Development Camp held in conjunction with the US Figure Skating Championships in Kansas.

Former champion Russian skaters on board

The Kremlin confirmed on Thursday that Russian figure skaters Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov had been on board. They had won the pairs title at the 1994 world championships and competed twice at the Winter Olympics. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov also confirmed that other Russian nationals had also been on board the American Airlines plane.

Shishkova and Naumov are listed as professional pairs coaches on the website of the Skating Club of Boston. Their son is a competitive figure skater for the US who may have also been on board the plane.

A TASS report suggested that Inna Volyanskaya — a former skater who competed for the Soviet Union — was also on board. She was a coach at the Washington figure skating club, according to its website.

Trump has questioned the actions of the helicopter crew and air traffic controllers on what he described as a ‘clear night’. A post on his Truth Social platform also raised a series of questions about the moments before the accident and deemed it a potentially ‘preventable’ incident.

“The airplane was on a perfect and routine line of approach to the airport. The helicopter was going straight at the airplane for an extended period of time. It is a CLEAR NIGHT, the lights on the plane were blazing. Why didn’t the helicopter go up or down, or turn. 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!!!” he wrote.

Pentagon launches investigation

The US Department of Defense and the Army have initiated an investigation into the collision. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that the inquiry had begun immediately and dubbed it an “absolutely tragic” turn of events.

Flights grounded, airport shut

The Federal Aviation Administration ordered the grounding of all planes at Reagan National and the airport was not due to reopen until 11:00 am local time on Thursday.

(With inputs from agencies)