Less than 24 hours after American Airlines Flight 5342 and a U.S. Army helicopter collided in mid-air in Washington D.C. near Ronald Reagan Washington International Airport, President Donald Trump confirmed that there are no survivors from the horrific accident.
“The work has now shifted to a recovery mission,” Trump told reporters, per NBC News, in a White House briefing Jan. 30. “Sadly there are no survivors.”
The aircraft, which was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, crashed into the Potomac River Jan. 29 after colliding with a U.S. Army Black Hawk, which carried three people. But following a “massive search-and-rescue mission,” the President mourned with the nation as he delivered the devastating update.
"This was a dark and excruciating night in our nation's capital and in our nation's history and a tragedy of terrible proportions as one nation,” Trump continued. “We grieve for every precious soul that has been taken from us so suddenly.”
Among those aboard the aircraft were American figure skaters, per a statement released by U.S. Figure Skating, as well as their coaches and family members who had been at camp in Wichita, Kansas, where the American Airlines plane had taken off from.
“We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts,” their statement read. “We will continue to monitor the situation and will release more information as it becomes available.”
And two-time Olympic medalist Nancy Kerrigan, who recalled the 1961 plane crash in Brussels that killed 18 members of the national team, was hit especially hard by the tragedy.
"Much like everyone here has been saying, I'm not sure how to process it," the Massachusetts native told reporters as she broke down into tears. "I'm sorry, which is why I'm here."
Russian media outlets reported the American Airlines flight also had Russian figure skaters and coaches, including former World champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov onboard.
"Bad news from Washington today," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters in his daily news conference. "We grieve and console with the families and friends who lost those of our fellow citizens who died in this plane crash."
As for what caused the accident, which Trump declared “should have been prevented,” preliminary FAA reports found, per NBC News, that staffing at the air traffic control tower at Reagan Washington National Airport was irregular, with one controller watching over both helicopter and airplane traffic instead of two.
And Kansas Senators Roger Marshall and Jerry Moran are demanding answers as they, along with residents of both Kansas and Washington D.C., grieve the loss of members of their community.
“Folks, this is one of the busiest airspaces in America, and for some reason, those transponders between this military helicopter and the civilian jet do not communicate with each other,” Marshall said in a virtual press conference Jan. 30. “I don’t know why they would be allowed in this airspace if they don’t communicate with each other. I think it just set up for failure.”
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Keep reading for everything we know about the American Airlines collision.
What Happened to the Passengers on American Airlines Flight 5342?
On the evening of Jan. 29, American Airlines flight 5342 traveling from Witchita, Kan., to Washington, D.C. collided with a United States Army Black Hawk helicopter near the Reagan Washington National Airport, the Federal Aviation Administration confirmed on X, formerly known as Twitter. The plane carrying 60 passengers and four crew members and the helicopter, which had three people aboard, crashed into the Potomac River.
The passenger jet, a Canadian-made Bombardier CRJ-700 series twin-engine jet, was operated by American Airlines' subsidiary airline, PSA Airlines.
What was first a rescue mission became a recovery operation, with all 67 passengers in both aircraft being confirmed dead.
"Our hearts are with the victims’ families as they navigate this tragic loss," Washington, D.C., officials shared in a statement Feb. 4. “We extend our deepest condolences and remain committed to supporting them through this difficult time."
The National Transportation Safety Board, which is leading the investigation, is still putting the pieces together but said in an update that data from air traffic control showed the helicopter appeared to be higher than the 200-foot ceiling allowed for its route.
"This data showed the Black Hawk was at 300 feet on the air traffic control display at the time of the collision. the NTSB said in a Feb. 4 investigation update. "This data is rounded to the nearest 100 feet.”
Who Was Onboard American Airlines Flight 5342?
Among the 60 passengers were 28 American figure skaters, coaches and family members who were at a camp in Wichita, Kan., according to U.S. Figure Skating.
"These athletes, coaches, and family members were returning home from the National Development Camp held in conjunction with the U.S. Figure Skating Championships," the governing body shared in a statement obtained by NBC News. "We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims' families closely in our hearts."
World champion Russian figure skating duo Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, who wed in 1995, were also onboard, the sport's governing body confirmed.
Hamaad Raza, whose wife was also on the American Airlines flight, was waiting for her at the international airport.
"I'm just praying that somebody's pulling her out of the river right now as we speak," he told CBS affiliate WUSA9. "That's all I can pray for. I'm just praying to God."
Soon-to-be Howard University School of Law professor Kiah Duggins was also a passenger on the flight. The university shared that the civil rights attorney, who earned her J.D. from Havard Law School, was set to join Howard's faculty this fall.
Who Was Onboard the U.S. Army Helicopter Involved in the Collision?
The helicopter was from Bravo Company, 12th Aviation Battalion out of Davison Army Airfield in Fort Belvoir, Virginia, Public Affairs Deputy Director for Joint Task Force-National Capital Region/Military District of Washington Ron McLendon II confirmed to NBC News.
The official shared that the aircraft was in the middle of a training mission at the time of the collision.
The passengers onboard were identified as Capt. Rebecca Lobach, 28, Chief Warrant Officer Andrew Eaves, 39, and Staff Sgt. Ryan Austin O'Hara, 28.
What Happens Next After Recover Efforts for American Airlines Flight 5342?
The FAA, U.S. Army and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the collision, with the latter taking the lead. The Pentagon has also initiated its own investigation.
While there are still more questions than answers, former NTSB and FAA investigator Jeff Guzzetti told Today that the air traffic control communications that night are "going to be scrutinized by the NTSB, that controller will be interviewed and the radar data will be looked at by the NTSB."
As of Feb. 4, NTSB investigators are continuing to transcribe the cockpit voice recorders for both aircraft, they confirmed in an update. The NTSB, in collaboration with the Naval Sea Systems Command Supervisor of Salvage and Diving , are continuing to recover the wreckage from the Potomac River.
Who Has Spoken Out After American Airlines Flight 5342 Crashed Into the Potomac River?
President Donald J. Trump shared his condolences about the tragedy.
"I have been fully briefed on the terrible accident which just took place at Reagan National Airport," the White House statement said. "May God Bless their souls. Thank you for the incredible work being done by our first responders. I am monitoring the situation and will provide more details as they arise."
Ilia Malinin, the men's figure skater who won his third consecutive U.S. figure skating title in Witchita Jan. 26, confirmed he was not onboard the flight. He wrote on his Instagram Stories, "I hope and pray for everyone who was on that flight is OK."
Wichita Mayor Lily Wu also expressed her grief, saying at a press conference that their "hearts are heavy as a city."
"We mourn with all those who have been impacted," she said. "This is a terrible tragedy that will unite those in Washington, D.C., and Wichita, Kansas, forever."
Two-time Olympic medalist Nancy Kerrigan shared an emotional message to reporters about the crash that claimed the lives of six skaters from Skating Club of Boston, where the athlete also formerly trained.
"I just wanted to be here and be part of our community," Kerrigan said through tears. "When you find out you know some of the people on the plane, it’s an even bigger blow.”