A midair collision between a U.S. Army helicopter and a jetliner resulted in the deaths of all 67 people on board both aircraft, officials reported Thursday. Authorities are now closely examining the actions of the military pilot in what is being described as the country’s deadliest aviation disaster in nearly 25 years.
At least 28 bodies were recovered from the icy waters of the Potomac River after the helicopter apparently entered the path of an American Airlines regional jet late Wednesday as it was approaching landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport, just across the river from Washington, D.C. The plane was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, while three soldiers were aboard the helicopter.
President Donald Trump confirmed at a White House press conference that there were no survivors.
“We are now at the point where we are switching from a rescue operation to a recovery operation,” said John Donnelly, the fire chief of Washington, D.C.
The crash occurred just before 9 p.m. in one of the most tightly controlled and monitored airspaces in the world, approximately 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) south of the White House and the Capitol.
While the cause of the crash remains unclear, federal investigators cautioned that air crash investigations can take months and declined to speculate.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has retrieved the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder from the Bombardier CRJ700 aircraft, according to agency spokesperson Peter Knudson. Both devices are now being analyzed at the agency’s laboratories.
The jetliner was discovered upside-down in three sections in waist-deep water, prompting first responders to conduct an extensive search along the Potomac, Donnelly said. Wreckage from the helicopter was also located. Images from the scene showed rescue boats surrounding the partially submerged wing and the crumpled remains of the fuselage.
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom stated that the plane was making a normal approach when “the military aircraft came into the path” of the jet.
According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) report obtained by The Associated Press, a single air traffic controller was handling both helicopter and plane traffic at the time of the collision. While these responsibilities are usually split between two controllers, the roles are combined at 9:30 p.m. when traffic slows. However, on Wednesday, the tower supervisor ordered the combination of duties earlier than usual.
