It was supposed to be just another routine flight. But for 64 passengers aboard an American Airlines jet approaching Washington DC, the night turned into a scene of unimaginable disaster.
At around 9:00 PM local time on Wednesday (02:00 GMT), as Flight AA from Wichita, Kansas, prepared for landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport, it collided mid-air with a US Army Black Hawk helicopter. Moments later, the jet plunged into the icy waters of the Potomac River.
A Desperate Search in Frigid Waters
Emergency teams rushed to the scene, but the situation was grim. While authorities have yet to confirm official casualties, CBS reports that 18 bodies have been recovered so far with no survivors.
Three US Army soldiers were aboard the Black Hawk, a defence official confirmed. The aircraft belonged to a battalion based in Fort Belvoir, Virginia, but details about its origin and mission remain unclear.
Rescuers are battling brutal conditions freezing winds, floating ice, and near-total darkness. John Donnelly, Washington DC’s emergency chief, painted a bleak picture:
“There is wind. There are pieces of ice in the water… and because there is not a lot of light, you are out there searching every square inch of space.”
Eyewitness Accounts: “A Fireball in the Sky”
Onlookers described the moment of impact as shocking and surreal.
Ari Schulman, who saw the incident unfold, told NBC Washington how the scene shifted from normal to catastrophic in an instant:
“There was a stream of sparks underneath the jet. It looked to me like a giant Roman candle… I looked back to see a fireball.”
Flights Halted, Investigations Underway
Operations at Washington National Airport have been suspended as emergency teams work at the crash site. Incoming flights are being redirected to Dulles International Airport, 45km away, and Washington’s metro system has extended services to accommodate stranded travellers.
President Donald Trump issued a statement, confirming he had been “fully briefed” on the incident, praising first responders, and vowing further updates as the situation develops.
Meanwhile, both federal aviation authorities and Congress have launched formal investigations into what caused this catastrophic collision. American Airlines CEO Robert Isom has dispatched a team to Washington and is en route himself.
A Nation Holds Its Breath
With the wreckage still being recovered and questions mounting, one thing is certain—this tragedy will send shockwaves through the aviation and military communities. As families await news of their loved ones, and officials piece together the events leading up to the crash, the US is left grappling with yet another devastating air disaster.
