On the night of January 29th, 2025, a tragic accident occurred in Washington, D.C. when an American Airlines passenger plane collided mid-air with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River. This devastating event resulted in the loss of all 64 individuals aboard the aircraft and 3 on the Black Hawk.
The Collision
At approximately 8:43 p.m. EST, American Airlines Flight 5342, a Bombardier CRJ700 airliner, was approaching Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport for landing. The flight was from Wichita, Kansas to Washington, D.C.. At the same time, the U.S. Army Sikorsky UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter was conducting a routine night flying evaluation. Despite both aircraft communicating with air traffic control along with the helicopter crew reporting visual contact with the airliner, the two collided mid-air at an altitude of around 325 feet. The collision caused both aircraft to crash into the Potomac River, resulting in the death of all 64 passengers and crew aboard the airliner and the 3 soldiers aboard the helicopter.
Victims and Their Stories
Among the victims was Captain Jonathan Campos, a 34-year-old pilot from New York City. Campos was remembered as a skilled and passionate aviator who inspired those around him.
Another victim, Lindsey Fields, was a biology teacher from Kansas. Known for her love of science and strong leadership, Fields made a lasting impact on her students and was also a dedicated mother to a 3-year-old daughter.
Additionally, many in the skating community were impacted by this flight when it claimed the lives of many figure skaters, coaches, and their families. Among them were Cory Haynos and his parents, as well as six members of the Skating Club of Boston, including world champion coaches Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov. Former Russian skater Inna Volyanskaya and members of the Philadelphia Skating Club also perished in the tragedy.
Investigation
The National Transportation Safety Board has launched an investigation into the cause of the collision. Officials say the U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter was flying higher than allowed and had its safety tracking system turned off. Investigators are also looking into air traffic control decisions, including a last-minute change of the airplane’s landing runway. Crews have been searching the Potomac River for wreckage, and experts are studying the recovered debris to figure out exactly what happened. Significant amounts of remains of the aircraft and its victims have been recovered.
Memorials
A “Wall of Hope” Memorial located along the National Mall in Washington, D.C. features hundreds of flowers and pictures of all 67 victims, providing a space for the public to pay their respects. To honor the figure skaters lost in the accident, Champion figure skaters, including Ilia Malinin, Amber Glenn, Tara Lipinski, Scott Hamilton, and more are coming together for a tribute show called “Legacy on Ice” to honor the victims. Lastly, American Airlines flight number AA5342 will be retired and no longer be available to honor the accident.
Sources:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/crash-reagan-national-airport-washington-dc/
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/plane-crash-victims-dc-american-airlines-black-hawk-rcna189980
https://www.kcra.com/article/dc-plane-helicopter-crash-victims/63623529
https://abcnews.go.com/US/wall-hope-memorializes-dc-plane-crash-victims/story?id=118538668
