D.C. Fire Chief John Donnelly said Thursday morning that no survivors are expected after an American Eagle CRJ-700 and Black Hawk helicopter collided near Reagan National Airport.
Crews are switching from a rescue to a recovery operation with the D.C. Medical Examiner’s leading. 64 passengers and crew members were on the regional jet with three troops on the helicopter.
So far, 27 bodies have been recovered from the jet along with one from the helicopter.
The National Transportation Safety Board is taking control of the crash site, Donnelly added.
Emergency response teams including Washington, DC Fire and EMS respond after an American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas collided with an Army helicopter while approaching National Airport on January 30, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) pic.twitter.com/CvvrhOpt3y
— Andrew Harnik (@andyharnik) January 30, 2025
Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy ‒ who was just appointed this week ‒ said the regional jet is in three pieces in waist-deep water. “Something went wrong here,” he added during a press conference Thursday.
American CEO Robert Isom added that the captain had six years of tenure with PSA, while the first officer had been with the regional carrier for two years.
Reagan National is set to open at 11 a.m. local time Thursday.
