Dozens Of Bodies Pulled From Potomac River After Passenger Jet and Black Hawk Helicopter Collide

A passenger jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter collided midair Wednesday night near Washington, D.C., crashing into the Potomac River. Rescue teams have already pulled dozens of bodies from the river.

The accident involved American Eagle Flight 5342, operated by PSA Airlines, which was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members. The Sikorsky H-60 Black Hawk was on a training flight with three soldiers aboard.

Even though the full death toll is still climbing, the tragedy already marks the deadliest U.S. commercial aviation accident in nearly 16 years. The last major crash took place in 2009 when a Continental Airlines flight, operated by Colgan Air, crashed while approaching Buffalo, New York, killing 49 people. With almost 70 people involved in the crash, the final death toll could be higher. Investigators from the FAA and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are now working to determine what led to Wednesday's collision over the Potomac.

The collision occurred around 9 p.m., when the American Eagle flight, which had departed from Wichita, Kansas, earlier in the evening, neared Ronald Reagan National Airport.

A livestream camera at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., seemed to capture the moment of the impact, showing an explosion over the Potomac River at 8:47 p.m. Search and rescue teams, including police boats and divers, began operations overnight.

Officials have recovered over 28 bodies from the water, NBC News reported. "It's a highly complex operation," District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Chief John Donnelly said. "The conditions are extremely rough."

CBS News reported that the American Eagle jet was only "a few hundred feet off the ground" when it collided with the Army helicopter. The jet was in the final moments of its approach, and depending on the point of impact, "the pilots may never have seen the helicopter coming."

President Donald Trump said he had been briefed on the crash and thanked first responders for their efforts. "May God bless their souls," he wrote. On Truth Social, he questioned whether the crash could have been prevented, calling the situation "NOT GOOD!!!" Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the Pentagon was monitoring developments and ready to assist if needed.

Reagan National Airport remains closed until at least 11 a.m. Thursday, with flights grounded since the collision. Jack Potter, president of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, said that reopening times were subject to change. Flights at nearby Dulles International Airport and Baltimore/Washington International Airport were not affected.