Tragic Collision: American Airlines Plane and U.S. Army Helicopter Crash into Icy River

Icy River Disaster: American Airlines and U.S. Army Helicopter Collision Near D.C.

On the evening of January 29, 2025, an American Airlines regional jet, operating as American Eagle Flight 5242, collided midair with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The collision occurred around 9 p.m. as the jet, en route from Wichita, Kansas, was approaching the airport for landing. Both aircraft crashed into the icy Potomac River, prompting a large-scale search and rescue operation.

The passenger jet was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, many of whom were figure skaters returning from a development camp. Notably, married world champion skaters Yevgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were among the passengers. Their son, Maxim Naumov, was initially believed to be on board but was later confirmed not to be among the passengers.

Rescue teams have recovered at least 18 bodies from the river. The challenging conditions, including cold and windy weather, have raised concerns about hypothermia for any potential survivors. The exact number of fatalities remains uncertain as the search continues.

All operations at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport were halted following the incident. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and other relevant agencies have initiated investigations to determine the cause of the collision, which occurred in highly controlled airspace.

This tragic event is reminiscent of the 1982 Air Florida Flight 90 crash, where a passenger jet struck a bridge and plunged into the Potomac River shortly after takeoff from the same airport, resulting in 78 fatalities.