News Writer Shira Crespi discusses the devastating death of 67 people during a collision between an American Airlines jet and a Black Hawk helicopter
Trigger Warning: Mentions death
Wednesday 29th of January saw a devastating mid-air collision over the Potomac River, claiming 67 lives and marking one of the deadliest aviation disasters in recent U.S. history. The collision was between an American Airlines passenger jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter, taking place near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, leaving no survivors.
marking one of the deadliest aviation disasters in recent U.S. history.
American Airlines Flight 5342, en route from Wichita, Kansas, was on its final approach to Reagan National Airport when it tragically intersected with the flight path of a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter from Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Debris scattered across the river as the impact sent both aircraft plummeting into the waters of the Potomac River. The passenger jet carried 64 people, containing a crew team of 4, whilst the helicopter contained a three-person crew.
Among the casualties were 28 members of the U.S. figure skating community, amongst them being young athletes and their coaches returning from a training camp in Wichita. Well-known coaches Inna Volyanskaya and Alexander Kirsanov were also lost in the incident. Their deaths have sent shockwaves through the global skating community, with vigils and tributes being held in their honour.
Families of those lost in the collision have gathered in Washington D.C. with grief-stricken communities mourning their loved ones across the country. Among the victims was Professor Kiah Duggins, a civil rights lawyer set to begin teaching at Howard University’s law school in the autumn. Two D.C. lawyers, Sarah Lee Best and Elizabeth Keys, both aged 33, were also on the flight, with Keys passing on her birthday, according to her partner. The plane’s captain Jonathan J. Campos, 34, had dreamt of being a pilot since he was three and had worked for PSA for eight years, according to the New York Times. Pilot Sam Lilley, 28, was engaged ‘at the prime of his life’ his father told NewsNation.
Pilot Sam Lilley, 28, was engaged ‘at the prime of his life’ his father told NewsNation.
The three helicopter crew members were also killed in the incident, including crew chief Ryan O’Hara, 28, chief warrant officer 2 (CW2) Andrew Eaves, and aviation officer Rebecca Lobach. Solemn recognition was given to the crew members by military officials, as they lost their lives in the line of duty.
‘We are in mourning’ President Trump stated upon expressing his condolences to the victims’ families address to the nation on the 30th January 2025, followed by a moment of silence. Trump affirmed that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), as well as the US military, have launched an extensive investigation to determine the cause of the collision, with recovery efforts underway. While officials stress it is too early to draw conclusions, initial reports indicated potential issues with air traffic control communications. Despite freezing conditions, divers are continuing to retrieve wreckage and remains from the river. The aircraft fuselage has been discovered in three major sections, complicating the forensic examination. As the investigation unfolds, America and the world remain united in grief, honouring those lost in one of the worst tragedies in recent aviation history.
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