18 Bodies Removed from the Potomac River After American Airlines Flight Crash in Washington, D.C.: Report

Mar. 15, 2025

Emergency response units conduct search and rescue operations in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington Airport on January 30, 2025 in Washington, DC.Photo:Andrew Harnik/Getty

Andrew Harnik/Getty

Eighteen bodies were reportedly removed from the Potomac River after an American Airlines regional passenger plane collided with a helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, Jan. 29, a police official at the scene toldCBS News.

The police official said there were at least three debris fields in the water and at least 18 bodies have been recovered as of 11:30 p.m. ET, reports CBS News. The official told the outlet no survivors have been found so far.

During the firstpress conferenceafter the crash, Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser told reporters officials could not confirm the number of bodies recovered, only the number of people on each aircraft. Officials have not given a number of casualties yet.

“We can’t provide any information about recovery efforts,” Bowser said.

CNNreported earlier that while there are confirmed fatalities, rescuers have not pulled anyone from the water yet and rescue efforts continue, citing a law enforcement source.

The PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet had 60 passengers and four crew members aboard, American Airlines said in a statement. There were three crew members aboard the Sikorsky H-60 helicopter, an Army Black Hawk helicopter, the U.S. Army toldCNN.

The Metropolitan Police Departmentsaid in a statementthat multiple agencies are currently coordinating a search and rescue operation in the Potomac River and “there is no confirmed information on casualties at this time.“DC Fire and EMS added that there are fireboats on the scene.

The four people were removed from the river and taken to a local hospital, per NBC 4.

Plane crash at Reagan Washington National Airport on January 29, 2025.TING SHEN/AFP via Getty

TING SHEN/AFP via Getty

The FAA said in a statement that the incident involved a PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet and a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter. CNN reported that it was an Army Black Hawk helicopter, citing two U.S. defense officials.The New York Timesalso reported it was an Army Black Hawk helicopter, citing an Army official.

“PSA was operating as Flight 5342 for American Airlines. It departed from Wichita, Kansas. The FAA and NTSB will investigate. The NTSB will lead the investigation,” the statement said.

The collision occurred as they were approaching Runway 33 around 9 p.m. local time.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said in a post toXthat the state of Maryland and local authorities are “engaged in response.”

“@MDMEMA has raised its Emergency Operations Center to ‘Enhanced’ status in support. @MDSP have deployed divers to the scene to assist with rescue missions. @MarylandDNR police are also on scene. There are no operational restrictions on BWI at this time,” Moore wrote.

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly also posted on X, saying she is aware of the flight that was inbound from Wichita, Kans. “I am actively in contact with authorities. My thoughts go out to those involved. I will share more information as it becomes available.”

Emergency response units wait on the tarmac as search and rescue operations are underway in the Potomac River at Ronald Reagan Washington Airport on January 30, 2025 in Washington, DC. Early reports indicate a helicopter and airplane collided near Reagan National Airport.Andrew Harnik/Getty

Vice PresidentJ.D. Vanceasked for prayers on X. “Please say a prayer for everyone involved in the mid-air collision near Reagan airport this evening. We’re monitoring the situation, but for now let’s hope for the best,” he wrote.

source: people.com