Details are starting to emerge about the devastating air crash that involved a commercial airplane and a helicopter.
Authorities are bracing for the confirmation of more than 60 fatalities after an American Airlines flight collided with a Black Hawk helicopter over Washington D.C. on January 29.
The tragedy struck as Flight 5342 was in its final approach to land at Ronald Reagan National Airport, which immediately halted all flights in and out. Law enforcement and rescue teams have been swarming the area, searching for survivors.
The crash led to a massive search operation, with officials combing the Potomac River for bodies after both aircraft plunged into the water. As of now, 28 bodies have been recovered, but the toll is expected to increase.
Among the confirmed passengers on the flight was 26-year-old Spencer Lane, a member of the U.S. figure skating team.
Before the crash, and just prior to taking off from Wichita Airport in Kansas, Lane posted something on social media that now feels haunting. At around 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday, he shared a photo of the wing of the ill-fated plane from his window seat, captioning it with “ICT -> DCA”—the airport codes for Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
Other top athletes from the American figure skating team are also believed to have been on the flight. Many were set to compete in the upcoming Winter Olympics.
Spencer Lane’s final post before the American Airlines plane crash(Spencer Lane)
They were heading back to the D.C. area after participating in a National Development Camp for young skaters in Wichita, Kansas.
On January 30, authorities provided a somber update regarding the incident.During a press briefing, DC Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly stated, “We are now transitioning from a rescue operation to a recovery mission. At this stage, we do not believe there are any survivors from this crash.”
Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy mentioned that the plane had been broken into three parts and that the search efforts would continue on January 30 for the sake of the American people.
Duffy also confirmed that both aircraft were following their “standard flight paths” before the collision, adding that “it’s not uncommon for a military aircraft to be flying along the river while planes are landing at DCA.”
What We Know So Far About the American Airlines Crash
What Caused the American Airlines Crash?
The cause of the crash remains undetermined, and the investigation is ongoing. The black boxes from both the helicopter and the plane will be crucial in understanding what led to the tragic collision. So far, it is known that the crash occurred when the passenger plane and the military helicopter collided as the plane was preparing to land on Runway 33 at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
What Has American Airlines Said About the Crash?
American Airlines CEO, Robert Isom, released a statement addressing the tragedy. He shared that he was en route to Washington, D.C. with a specialized team to assist with the investigation. He said: “This is a difficult day for all of us at American Airlines, and our efforts now are focused entirely on the needs of our passengers, crew members, partners, first responders, and their families and loved ones. I know that there are many questions. At this early stage, I’ll not be able to answer all of them, but I do want to share the information I have at this time.”
What Has Donald Trump Said About the American Airlines Crash?
President Trump weighed in on the incident, calling it a “bad situation” that “should have been prevented.” In a post on Truth Social, he wrote: “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!!! What a terrible night this has been. God bless you all!”