Washington D.C. mid-air collision kills 67 in plane, military helicopter crash

• A midair crash between a PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 passenger jet and a U.S. Army Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter killed all 67 people on board
• The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the cause of the crash, with a preliminary report expected within 30 days
• President Donald Trump blamed diversity and inclusion policies for the crash without evidence

A devastating midair collision between a commercial passenger jet and a U.S. Army helicopter near Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., claimed the lives of all 67 people on board both aircraft. 

The tragedy marks the deadliest aviation disaster in the U.S. since 2001.

The crash occurred around 9 p.m. on Wednesday, January 29, when a PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700, operating as an American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas, collided with a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter belonging to the U.S. Army. 

Both aircraft plunged into the icy waters of the Potomac River, prompting an intense recovery operation.

Details of the incident

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the passenger jet was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, while the military helicopter had three personnel on board. 

As of Thursday, officials confirmed that at least 28 bodies, including all three soldiers from the helicopter, had been recovered. 

Search efforts are ongoing, but authorities have stated that there are no expected survivors.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation into the cause of the crash. 

While conditions were clear for flying, preliminary reports indicate that air traffic control communications with the helicopter occurred just 30 seconds before the collision. 

The helicopter crew reported having the passenger jet in sight before the crash.

Response and reactions

President Donald Trump addressed the incident, controversially blaming federal diversity and inclusion initiatives for the crash, though he later admitted there was no evidence to support his claims. 

He has since signed an executive order reversing what he called "woke policies" in federal aviation agencies.

Trump’s remarks have been widely criticised by lawmakers, including the Congressional Asian-Pacific American Caucus and the Congressional Black Caucus, who denounced his comments as racist and misleading. 

They urged a focus on factual investigations rather than political rhetoric.

Aviation experts warned of risks

Aviation specialists have pointed out that the airspace around Reagan National Airport is one of the most challenging in the country, given its proximity to restricted zones, military aircraft, and heavy commercial traffic. 

Ross Aimer, a retired United Airlines captain, noted that experts had long warned about the risks of air traffic congestion in the area.

The FAA has struggled with staffing shortages among air traffic controllers, a concern that has been raised repeatedly after several close calls at major U.S. airports in recent years. 

An FAA report obtained by the Associated Press revealed that one controller was responsible for managing both helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft traffic at the time of the crash, an unusual configuration that may have played a role in the incident.

Nigeria joins in mourning

Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and extended condolences to the U.S. government and the families of the victims. 

In a statement posted on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, he commended first responders for their efforts and affirmed Nigeria’s solidarity with the American people.

Ongoing investigation

The NTSB has recovered both the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder from the CRJ700 jet, which are now being analysed. 

Experts, including Hassan Shahidi, President of the Flight Safety Foundation, stressed that such accidents remain rare and preventable, calling for increased modernisation of air traffic control systems to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

Meanwhile, as search and recovery efforts continue, families of the victims and the aviation industry await further updates on the cause of this catastrophic event.

Plane crash claims 179 lives in South Korea's worst air disaster

Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that 179 people were killed on Sunday, December 29, in South Korea’s deadliest aviation disaster when Jeju Air Flight 7C2216  crash-landed at Muan International Airport.

The Boeing 737-800 was en route from Bangkok, Thailand, to Muan International Airport with 175 passengers and six crew onboard, before it erupted into flames after skidding off the runway and slamming into a wall.

Bird strike was suspected to have caused the landing gear malfunction, leading to the crash.