Washington: U.S. authorities stated on Thursday that the cause of a devastating mid-air collision between a regional jet and a U.S. Army helicopter at a Washington airport remains unknown. The crash, which resulted in 67 fatalities, marks the deadliest U.S. air disaster in over two decades.
President Donald Trump, without providing evidence, suggested that federal diversity policies might have played a role, aligning with a broader theme of his administration. His remarks were met with criticism from rights groups and Democrats, who accused him of politicizing the tragedy.
Questions are swirling after the deadly mid-air collision between an American Airlines passenger jet and a US Army helicopter near a Washington, D.C., airport. Here’s what we know so far https://t.co/rIgLJrwGTD pic.twitter.com/UvBm9IXVCs
— Reuters (@Reuters) January 31, 2025
Investigation Underway
The investigation into the collision at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport has just begun. The American Airlines Bombardier CRJ700, operated by PSA Airlines, was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members when it struck a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter. The jet then crashed into the Potomac River while attempting to land late Wednesday night.
Authorities have yet to release all victims’ names, though the deceased include several promising young figure skaters and passengers from Kansas, where the flight originated. Senator Maria Cantwell confirmed that among the victims were citizens from Russia, the Philippines, and Germany.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation, with officials stating that a preliminary report will be available within 30 days. Investigators have recovered the aircraft’s cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder. Wreckage, including portions of the helicopter, is being collected and stored in a hangar at Reagan National.
Washington’s fire and emergency services department reported that divers had searched all accessible areas and planned additional underwater searches on Friday to recover remaining aircraft components.
Flight Paths and Communication
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated that both aircraft were following standard flight patterns and that no communication breakdown was initially detected.
“Everything was routine up to the point of the accident,” Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin told Reuters. Reagan National Airport, located just across the Potomac River from Washington, has one of the busiest runways in the country.
At a White House briefing, Trump criticized the helicopter pilots and raised concerns about air traffic controllers’ performance.
“We do not know what led to this crash, but we have some very strong opinions and ideas,” he said.
Air traffic control records indicate that controllers warned the helicopter of the approaching jet and directed it to change course. A single controller, rather than the usual two, was handling both plane and helicopter traffic at the time—an arrangement considered “not normal” but permissible given lower nighttime traffic volumes. A source familiar with the matter confirmed that combining duties in the evening is a common practice.
A persistent shortage of air traffic controllers in the U.S. has raised safety concerns, with some controllers working mandatory overtime and six-day work weeks. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) currently has around 3,000 fewer controllers than its target staffing level.
President Donald Trump suggested, without evidence, that federal diversity initiatives contributed to the deadly crash of a regional jet into a US Army helicopter at a Washington airport, claiming 67 lives in the worst US air disaster in two decades https://t.co/Io3Jl62aBJ pic.twitter.com/dcQMytYFve
— Reuters (@Reuters) January 31, 2025
Concerns Over Air Traffic Congestion
The Washington, D.C., region has highly congested airspace, with three commercial airports and multiple military installations. Officials have previously raised concerns about the heavy traffic at Reagan National, which has seen several near-miss incidents, including a major one in May 2024.
Trump suggested that President Joe Biden’s administration had weakened FAA hiring standards, implying that its diversity initiatives could have compromised safety.
Asked whether diversity hiring played a role in the crash, Trump responded, “It just could have been.”
His administration has not provided evidence to support this claim. No proof has emerged indicating that diversity initiatives have impacted aviation safety. Trump’s remarks have drawn sharp criticism, with rights advocates arguing that he is exploiting the tragedy for political purposes.
Derrick Johnson, president of the NAACP, condemned the comments, stating:
“The President has made his decision to put politics over people abundantly clear as he uses the highest office in the land to sow hatred rooted in falsehoods instead of providing us with the leadership we need and deserve.”
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg also denounced Trump’s statements. “As families grieve, Trump should be leading, not lying,” he posted on social media.
Unclear Cause
Other officials refrained from speculation, emphasizing that there is no immediate indication of what led to the crash.
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom confirmed that the pilot of American Eagle Flight 5342 had approximately six years of flight experience. Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the Army helicopter crew consisted of three soldiers with substantial experience who were using night-vision goggles for a routine training flight. In response to the crash, the Army unit involved has grounded similar flights pending further review of training protocols in the region.
Air traffic control audio captured final communications with the helicopter, call sign PAT25, shortly before impact.
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“PAT25, do you have a CRJ in sight? PAT25, pass behind the CRJ,” an air traffic controller was heard saying at 8:47 p.m. ET (0147 GMT) on Wednesday, according to a recording from liveatc.net.
Moments later, another pilot reported seeing the collision: “Tower, did you see that?” An air traffic controller then instructed incoming flights to divert.
Eyewitnesses described the aftermath. “I just saw a fireball, and then it was just gone. I haven’t seen anything since they hit the river,” an air traffic controller remarked.
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A security webcam captured the collision and explosion, illuminating the night sky.
The crash is the deadliest U.S. air disaster since November 2001, when an American Airlines jet crashed shortly after takeoff from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, killing all 260 people onboard and five on the ground.
Reagan National Airport’s primary runway is one of the busiest in the U.S., handling over 800 takeoffs and landings daily. The NTSB has investigated nine incidents at the airport since 2000, including two fatal accidents.
