Washington DC Plane Crash Live Updates: Two Indian-origin passengers among 67 killed in the mid-air crash

Grim search for plane crash bodies as Trump doubles down

Divers scoured for the remaining bodies from the Washington plane crash Friday as President Donald Trump posted his own politicized verdict on the deadliest US air disaster in almost a quarter century, with the investigation barely underway.

Forty-one victims have been pulled from the frigid Potomac River, and rescuers voiced confidence the other 26 would be retrieved in the operation to recover the passenger jet that collided midair with a Black Hawk military helicopter Wednesday night.

"Our dive teams are working in targeted areas and additional Coast Guard assets will arrive this afternoon. The salvage crews... are assessing the work that's going to be needed to recover the aircraft from the water," Washington Fire Chief John Donnelly told a news conference at Reagan National Airport, outside the US capital.

Lifting the aircraft's fuselage out of the river would likely reveal the remaining bodies, he said, adding: "If it doesn't, we will continue the search."

Two Indian-origin passengers among 67 killed in Washington mid-air crash

A deadly collision between an Army helicopter and a commercial airplane at Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington has claimed 67 lives, including Indian-origin passengers Vikesh Patel and Asra Hussain Raza. Patel was an MRO Transformational Leader at GE Aerospace, and Raza, a DC-based consultant, had recently married her university sweetheart. Read full story

International Skating Union to honor athletes killed in plane crash when Boston hosts world champs

A mid-air collision near Washington, DC claimed the lives of several figure skaters, coaches, and family members returning from a national skating camp. The International Skating Union (ISU) announced that the victims will be honored at the World Championships in Boston in March. ISU president Jae Youl Kim, visibly emotional, emphasized the importance of mourning and supporting those affected. Skaters at the European Championships dedicated performances to the victims, highlighting the solidarity of the figure skating community. The sport is also mourning the loss of two-time Olympic champion and broadcaster Dick Button, who passed away at 95.

More than 40 bodies pulled out of water

More than 40 bodies have been pulled from the water after DC midair collision, law enforcement official said.

Two Indian-origin persons among victims of US air crash

A tragic midair collision at Washington's Ronald Reagan National Airport on Wednesday night killed 67 people, including two Indian-origin victims: Vikesh Patel and Asra Hussain Raza. Patel, a GE Aerospace engineer from Greater Cincinnati, was traveling on American Airlines flight 5342 when it collided with an Army helicopter. He had worked at GE Aerospace for over a decade. Raza, a 26-year-old Washington, DC-based consultant, was on the same flight. She had recently married and was involved in a hospital turnaround project. Her husband, Hamaad, received a text from her saying they were about to land, but later found out about the crash. The collision is the deadliest aviation disaster in the US since 2001.

How long will the investigation take?

NTSB representatives refrained from specifying the investigation duration on Thursday, although such accident inquiries commonly extend between one to two years until completion.

The organisation usually issues an initial findings document within several weeks following the incident, containing a summary of data gathered at the incident location.

How will the crash investigation work?

The NTSB will form several specialised working groups to investigate Wednesday's crash, as outlined by board member Todd Inman.

The groups will cover distinct aspects of the incident. The operations team will study flight records and crew responsibilities, whilst structures will examine the wreckage and crash site. Power plants will analyse engines and accessories, and systems will inspect electrical, hydraulic and pneumatic components. Air traffic control will review flight tracking data and communications, whilst survival factors will assess injuries and rescue operations. A dedicated helicopter group will also be established.

A human-performance team will collaborate across operations, air traffic control and helicopter groups. They will evaluate crew performance and potential contributing factors, including human error, fatigue, medical conditions, medications, training levels and workload management, according to Inman.

Investigators recover plane black boxes from Washington air collision

Investigators retrieved the black boxes from the passenger aircraft that was involved in a mid-air collision with a military helicopter above Washington's Potomac River.

As the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced the recovery of both the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder from the Bombardier aircraft, operated by an American Airlines subsidiary that struck an Army Black Hawk helicopter on Wednesday evening, Trump continued his political commentary on the incident.
The NTSB confirmed to AFP that "The recorders are at the NTSB labs for evaluation."

The New York Times reported that Reagan National Airport's control tower was operating with reduced personnel when the airliner was approaching for landing at the time of the

Washington DC Plane Crash: 'This is not what I expected on my first day on the job to be', says transportation secretary Duffy

Washington DC Plane Crash: Filipino police officer killed in collision

A Filipino police officer was among the people killed in a mid-air crash in Washington between a US commercial jet and a military helicopter, Philippine police said Friday.

The Wednesday night disaster caused both aircraft to tumble into the icy Potomac River, killing 67 passengers and crew.

"The Philippine National Police mourns the tragic loss of Police Colonel Pergentino N. Malabed, Chief of the Supply Management Division, who was among those on board the American Airlines flight that collided mid-air with a US Army Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport," an official statement said.

Manila was notified that a body carrying Malabed's passport was recovered from the Potomac, police spokesman Colonel Randulf Tuano told AP.

Washington DC Plane Crash: Zero visilibilty under water making recovery efforts slow

Divers involved in the recovery efforts following the plane collision in Washington, DC, are encountering significant obstacles due to challenging conditions, including intense mud and near-zero visibility, news agency CNN reported.

Although the wreckage of the aircraft is submerged in only a few feet of water, experts have explained that the recovery process is still extremely difficult. At least 14 people remain missing, while dozens of bodies have been recovered, following the collision between a plane carrying 64 passengers from Wichita, Kansas, and a US Army helicopter with three soldiers aboard.

Butch Hendrick, a rescue trainer and founder of Lifeguard Systems, a New York-based program for divers and rescue teams, described the conditions as making the recovery painfully slow.

Washington DC Plane Crash Live Updates: Pilot Samuel Lilley killed in the collision

Sam Lilley was serving as the first officer on an American Airlines flight carrying 60 passengers and four crew members when tragedy struck.

Authorities have confirmed that no one survived the crash, which resulted in both aircraft plunging into the Potomac River. The disaster is now recognized as the deadliest aviation accident in the United States since 2001. So far, at least 28 bodies have been recovered from the icy waters, with recovery efforts still underway.

At the time of the crash, Lilley and his crew were on a routine flight from Wichita, Kansas, to Washington, DC. The soldiers on the Black Hawk helicopter were engaged in their annual night training, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth noting that they were an experienced crew.

Washington DC Plane Crash Live Updates: Over 40 bodies recovered from wreckage of deadliest US plane crash in two decades

More than 40 bodies had been recovered by Friday, news agency CNN revealed, citing sources. There were 64 people on board the plane – which was flying from Wichita, Kansas. Three soldiers were aboard the Army helicopter, according to DC Mayor Muriel Bowser.

Washington DC Plane Crash Live Updates: NATCA expressed grief for those who died in the tragedy

The national air traffic controllers association (NATCA) expressed condolences for those who lost their lives in the tragedy at Washington National Airport (DCA). The assosication said, "The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) joins all Americans in grieving for those who lost their lives in last night’s tragedy at Washington National Airport (DCA)."

It added that NATCA was committed to working with federal agencies to understand what happened and ensure the highest standards of aviation safety.

Furthermore, the NATCA expressed support for the highly skilled air traffic controllers and all professionals "who perform safety-critical work 24 hours-a-day, seven days-a-week, 365 days-a-year and keeps the United States as the gold standard for aviation safety."

Washington DC Plane Crash Live Updates: Plane crash victims included teenage figure skaters

The victims of Wednesday’s midair collision between an American Airlines jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter included teenage figure skaters returning from a national competition with their mothers and coaches, an Ohio college student traveling home from her grandfather’s funeral, two Chinese nationals, and a group of hunters coming back from a guided trip in Kansas.

The commercial flight carried 60 passengers and four crew members when it struck the military helicopter, which had three soldiers on board. Officials have confirmed there were no survivors.

As recovery efforts continued Thursday, grief spread through affected communities. Faith leaders gathered for a vigil inside the city council chambers.

“The only way we will get through this is together,” said the Rev Pamela Hughes Mason of Wichita’s St Paul AME Church.

Washington DC Plane Crash: NTSB discovers voice recorders from the plane

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has recovered key evidence that may help reconstruct the final moments leading up to Wednesday’s fatal midair collision.

In a statement to Fox News, the agency confirmed that investigators have retrieved the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder from American Airlines Flight 5342.

"The recorders are now at the NTSB labs for analysis," a spokesperson said.

Washington DC Plane Crash: USACE Baltimore has activated its emergency operations center

Washington DC Plane Crash: USACE aids Potomac river wreckage cleanup after the deadly collision

The US army corps of engineers (USACE) is assisting local, regional, and federal agencies in clearing wreckage from the Potomac River following Wednesday night’s deadly collision.

In a statement on Thursday, USACE’s Baltimore district confirmed it had activated its emergency operations centre and was working closely with the US coast guard and the US navy’s supervisor of salvage and diving to coordinate recovery and salvage efforts.

“Preliminary analysis and assessment is currently underway, providing critical data that will assist in future operations,” USACE said.

As part of the response, the agency has deployed two debris vessels to help clear wreckage from the river and remove ice at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling. It will also conduct hydrographic surveys using “the BUCK,” a 26-foot survey vessel equipped with single and multi-beam sonars.

Washington DC Plane Crash: Black Hawk might have been flying higher than permitted, reports

The Black Hawk helicopter involved in the fatal midair collision is reported to have been flying higher than permitted altitude and outside its designated flight path, according to reports cited by Fox News.

The New York Times, cited four sources on the matter who revealed that the helicopter was expected to operate at a lower altitude and in a different location within the airspace near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

Washington DC Plane Crash: PM Modi extends 'heartfelt condolences to the families of the plane crash victims'

Washington DC Plane Crash: 'Air traffic controller was doing the job of two people'

The air traffic control tower at Reagan National Airport was understaffed on Wednesday evening when the passenger plane and a military helicopter collided in midair, according to a government report cited by The Washington Post.

A report by the federal aviation administration revealed that one air traffic controller was responsible for coordinating helicopter traffic and arriving and departing planes when the collision happened.

Usually those duties are divided between two people, but the airport typically combines the roles at 9:30 pm once traffic begins to slow down, news agency AP reported. On Wednesday the tower supervisor directed that they be combined earlier.

“The position configuration was not normal for the time of day and volume of traffic,” the report said. A person familiar with the matter, however, said the tower staffing that night was at a normal level.

A top Army aviation official said the crew of the helicopter, a Black Hawk, was “very experienced” and familiar with the congested flying that occurs daily around the city.

“Both pilots had flown this specific route before, at night. This wasn’t something new to either one of them,” said Jonathan Koziol, chief of staff for army aviation.

A midair collision between an Army helicopter and a jetliner killed all 67 people on board, officials said Thursday, after examining the military pilot's actions in what is now the country’s worst aviation disaster in nearly 25 years.

At least 28 bodies were recovered from the icy Potomac River after the helicopter apparently crossed into the path of an American Airlines regional jet late Wednesday. The plane was landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport, just across the river from Washington, officials said. The aircraft carried 60 passengers and four crew members, while three soldiers were aboard the helicopter.

President Donald Trump confirmed at a White House news conference that there were no survivors.

“We are now at the point where we are switching from a rescue operation to a recovery operation,” said John Donnelly, the fire chief in the nation’s capital.

The crash happened just before 9 pm in one of the most tightly monitored airspaces in the world, about 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) south of the White House and the Capitol.

Investigators from the national transportation safety board (NTSB) have begun their inquiry, but officials said it could take months to determine the cause.

Spokesperson Peter Knudson confirmed that the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder from the Bombardier CRJ700 jet have been retrieved and sent to NTSB labs for analysis.

Washington DC Plane Crash: DC control tower staffing was ‘not normal’ during crash, FAA report says

As the investigation into plane crash at Reagan Airport continues, a key piece of information so far is an initial Federal Aviation Administration report. The report, obtained by the New York Times, the Associated Press, and others, said that staffing levels were “not normal for the time of day and volume of traffic.”

US Plane crash: Two Chinese citizens among US plane crash victims

Two Chinese citizens were among the victims of a midair crash in Washington between a US commercial airliner with 64 people on board and a military helicopter, state media reported Friday citing the Chinese embassy.

"Following preliminary enquiries" the embassy said the Chinese citizens were "among the victims in the mid-air collision of a passenger plane and a helicopter near Reagan National Airport Wednesday night", Xinhua news agency said.

Officials have retrieved the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder, commonly known as black boxes, from the American Airlines plane, CBS News said.

These recorders could provide insights into what happened during the flight. According to CBS, the National Transportation Safety Board will analyze them at a lab near the crash site.

Washington DC Plane Crash: Officials recover flight black boxes

Officials have retrieved the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder, commonly known as black boxes, from the American Airlines plane, BBC said.

US Plane Crash: NTSB plans to have preliminary report within 30 days

US NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) Member Todd Inman says, "Our investigative team will be on scene as long as it takes to obtain all of the perishable evidence and all the fact-finding needed to conclude of probable cause. Our mission is to understand not just what happened, but why it happened and to recommend changes to prevent it from happening again... We intend to have a preliminary report within 30 days and the final report will be issued once we've completed all of our fact-finding and investigation... Today, we are going to have an organizational meeting establishing our parties to our investigation... The NTSB offers this party status to those companies, government agencies and associations that have employees, activities or equipment involved in the accident..."

"Once they join this investigation, they are not permitted to release documents or talk publicly about the investigation without the consent of the NTSB... Only the NTSB will provide information related to this investigation with one exception regarding the fatalities. That notification will be handled by the D.C. medical examiner. We will not discuss fatalities or names... We will analyze the facts, determine the probable cause of the accident and then issue a report... Later, today we will brief the families..." he added.

Washington DC Plane Crash: Who is Chris Rocheleau, Trump's pick for FAA acting administrator after mid-air collision

US President Donald Trump on Thursday appointed Chris Rocheleau as the acting administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) following a mid-air collision between a passenger plane and a military helicopter in Washington, D.C.

He will remain in the position until the Senate confirms Trump's nominee for the permanent administrator role and his immediate responsibility will be to oversee the response to the collision.

Rochealau has over two decades of FAA experience, according to US Chamber of Commerce. His most recent role was as chief operating officer at the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA).

Washington DC plane crash: Teens from a Boston skating club, their mothers, and coaches among passengers killed in air crash

A crash between an American Airlines jet and an Army helicopter has killed teen figure skaters returning from a national meet with their mothers and coaches, as well as a group of union steamfitters from the Washington, D.C. area.

They were among 60 travelers and four crew members on board the flight late Wednesday when it collided with a Blackhawk helicopter that was carrying three soldiers. It appears all on board both aircraft were killed when the plane and helicopter collided over the Potomac River, officials say.

John Donnelly, the fire chief in the nation’s capital, said he's confident that the remains of those killed in the crash will be recovered, but it may take some time.

Several athletes on the flight had attended a development camp after in the U.S. Figure Skating Championships that ended Sunday in Wichita, Kansas, the organization said in a statement.

“We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts,” U.S. Figure Skating said in a statement.

American Airlines set up a hotline as well as centers in Washington and Wichita for people searching for information about family members who may have been aboard Wednesday's downed flight. The hotline can be reached at 1-800 679 8215.

Washington DC Plane Crash: Bodies of three Army soldiers recovered

The bodies of all three soldiers who were on board an Army helicopter involved in a midair collision have been recovered. That is according to U.S. officials.

Officials said Thursday that the remains will be at Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. That office coordinates the dignified transfer of fallen service members. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details not yet announced. No identities of the crew have been released.

They were killed in midair collision with an American Airlines passenger jet late Wednesday near the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport outside of Washington, D.C. There were 64 people on board the jet and officials say all of them were killed in the crash.

Washington DC plane crash: Visuals from incident after plane crashed, Area cordoned off

'This was dark and excruciating night in US' history: Trump on Washington DC plane crash

Addressing the White House after the plane crash incident, US newly elected President Donald Trump said, "I speak to you this morning in an hour of anguish for our nation. Just before 9 pm last night, an American Airlines regional jet carrying 60 passengers and four crew collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter carrying three military service members over the Potomac River in Washington, DC, while on final approach to Reagan National Airport. Both aircraft crashed instantly and were immediately submerged into the icy waters of the Potomac. Real tragedy."

" The massive search and rescue mission was underway throughout the night, leveraging every asset at our disposal. And I have to say, the local, state, federal, military, including the United States Coast Guard in particular, they've done a phenomenal job. So quick, so fast, it was mobilized immediately. The work has now shifted to a recovery mission. Sadly, there are no survivors. 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, we grieve for every precious soul that has been taken from us so suddenly...This has shaken a lot of people, including people, very sadly, from other nations who were on the flight..." he added.

Washington DC plane crash: Emotions pour from tight-knit skating community following DC plane crash carrying athletes, coaches

The tight-knit figure skating community was rocked Wednesday when an American Airlines flight carrying athletes, parents and coaches from a development camp in Wichita, Kansas, collided with an Army helicopter and crashed into the Potomac River.

Sixty passengers and four crew members on the flight, along with three soldiers aboard the Blackhawk helicopter, are presumed dead. Among those killed were young skaters Jinna Han and Spencer Lane, their mothers and coaches Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, all of them representing the prestigious Skating Club of Boston.

The accident was an eerie reminder of the 1961 plane crash that killed the U.S. delegation en route to the world championships in Prague. Many of the top skaters on that team, including sisters Laurie and Maribel Owen, were from the Boston club.

President Trump blames diversity policies under Obama and Biden for poor air safety standards following deadly Washington plane crash

DC Plane Crash Live: US President Donald Trump holds press briefing on Aviation Disaster in Washington DC

A mid-air collision between a passenger jet and a military helicopter occurred on Wednesday night near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The jet, carrying 60 passengers and 4 crew members, collided with a helicopter that had three US army soldiers onboard. American Airlines confirmed in a press briefing that at least 28 bodies have been recovered from the Potomac River, adding that there are likely no survivors. The rescue operation is still underway.

Figure skating mourns victims of US plane crash

The close-knit world of figure skating was in mourning on Thursday after a passenger jet carrying athletes and coaches, including former Russian world pairs champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, crashed into Washington's Potomac River.
The plane carrying 64 collided midair with a military helicopter as it was approaching Reagan National Airport in Washington DC on Wednesday evening, plunging into the freezing river.

Several members of the US figure skating community were also passengers, the sport's national governing body confirmed.

They had been taking part in a training camp for top juniors that was held after the US championships, which took place in Wichita, Kansas, at the weekend.

"U.S. Figure Skating can confirm that several members of our skating community were sadly aboard," the national governing body said in a statement.

"We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims' families closely in our hearts."

Authorities in the US have not confirmed the identities of any of the victims but Russia's state TASS and RIA news agencies cited anonymous sources as saying that Shishkova and Naumov were on board, as well as Inna Volyanskaya, a former pair skater who competed for the Soviet Union.

"The International Skating Union (ISU) and the global skating community are deeply shocked by the tragic accident," the sport's world governing body said in a statement.

"We are heartbroken to learn that figure skaters, along with their families, friends, and coaches, are understood to be among those on board.

"Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragedy.

"Figure skating is more than a sport. It's a close-knit family and we stand together. We remain in close contact with U.S. Figure Skating and offer our full support during this incredibly difficult time."

Shishkova, 52, and Naumov, 55, competed at six world championships between 1991 to 1996, winning gold, silver and bronze medals.

The peak of their career was winning the 1994 pairs title at the world championships in Chiba, Japan.

They dethroned the Canadian title holders Isabelle Brasseur and Lloyd Eisler, who had deprived them of bronze at the 1994 Olympics a few weeks earlier.

Born in Saint Petersburg, the couple, who married in 1995, were known for their highly classicical skating style.

They ended their careers after failing to qualify for the Nagano Olympic Games in 1998.

After becoming professionals, they moved to the United States to become coaches, first in Connecticut then in Boston since 2017.

Their 23-year-old son Maxim Naumov, the US junior champion in 2020, had recently placed fourth in the US national championships in Kansas. It is not known whether he was onboard.

In 1961, 18 members of the US figure skating team died in a plane crash while traveling to Prague for the World Championships.

DC Plane Crash Live: Washington plane crash was 'absolutely' preventable, says US transportation chief

The crash between a passenger jet and army helicopter over Washington that is feared to have killed all aboard both aircraft was "absolutely" preventable, US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Thursday.
"Do I think this was preventable? Absolutely," Duffy told a news conference where authorities said the Wednesday night collision occurred in clear weather conditions.

DC Plane Crash Live: Likely no survivors in Washington plane crash, says fire chief

There are likely no survivors from a collision between a passenger jet and US Army helicopter in Washington, officials said Thursday, as recovery operations pulled 28 bodies from the river into which both crashed.

"At this point we don't believe there are any survivors," Washington Fire Chief John Donnelly told a news conference at Reagan National Airport, outside the US capital. "We are now at a point where we are switching from a rescue operation to a recovery operation."

Donnelly said 27 bodies were recovered from the plane and one from the helicopter.

DC Plane Crash Live: All aboard American Airlines jet feared dead after collision with Army helicopter

A midair collision between an American Airlines jet and a US Army helicopter near Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, DC, has left all 64 people aboard the aircraft feared dead, according to local fire officials. The crash, which occurred Wednesday, triggered a large-scale search-and-rescue operation in the nearby Potomac River. The American Airlines flight was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members. Authorities are continuing to investigate the incident as rescue efforts persist.

American Airlines CEO issues statement following accident involving Flight 5342

American Airlines CEO has issued a statement expressing concern for the passengers and crew on board American Eagle Flight 5342, which was involved in an accident at Washington, DC (DCA). The flight, operated by PSA Airlines with a CRJ-700, was en route from Wichita, Kansas (ICT), and had 60 passengers and four crew members on board.

The airline is in contact with authorities and assisting with emergency response efforts. American Airlines has provided a toll-free number for those who may have loved ones on board—800-679-8215. The airline will continue to release updates as more information becomes available. Family members are encouraged to monitor news.aa.com and @AmericanAir for the latest developments.

DC Plane Crash Live: Mayor Muriel Bowser holds press briefing on fatal midair collision

Washington, DC, Mayor Muriel Bowser is currently holding a press briefing at Reagan National Airport following a fatal midair collision involving an American Airlines passenger jet and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter. The American Airlines flight was carrying 64 passengers, while the helicopter had three soldiers on board. DC officials are providing the latest information on the incident, and updates will follow as the investigation progresses.

At least 30 bodies recovered after mid-air collision near Ronald Reagan National Airport

At least 30 bodies have been recovered from Washington DC’s Potomac River after an American Airlines flight collided mid-air with a Black Hawk helicopter, CBS reports.

The jet, carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, was en route from Wichita, Kansas, when it crashed near Ronald Reagan National Airport. The military helicopter had three soldiers on board.

Rescue teams are working under "extremely rough" conditions, with emergency services reporting icy waters hampering recovery efforts.

The US Figure Skating association confirmed that "several members of the skating community" were on board the plane.

US President Donald Trump said he had been briefed on the "terrible accident" and questioned why the helicopter didn’t "go up or down" to avoid the collision.

Husband of missing passenger recounts final texts before Washington plane crash

A man whose wife was on the American Eagle flight that crashed into the Potomac River on Wednesday night said he became alarmed when his text messages to her stopped going through, CBS News reported.

Hamaad Raza told CBS affiliate WUSA-TV that he had been texting with his wife as she was preparing to land at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The last message he received from her read, "We're landing in 20." However, when he tried to reply, none of his messages were delivered.

"That's when I realized something might be up," Raza said.

His wife, 26, had been traveling to Wichita for work and had always been fearful of flying, he added. The couple has been married for just over two years.

"I'm just praying that somebody's pulling her out of the river as we speak," Raza said. "That's all I can pray for."

Authorities have yet to release an official casualty count, but multiple bodies have been recovered from the river as search and rescue operations continue.

Washington DC air crash: What we know

A mid-air collision over Washington on Wednesday night resulted in a US commercial airliner with 64 people on board and a military Black Hawk helicopter crashing into the Potomac River, triggering a massive rescue operation. The Bombardier jet, operated by American Airlines subsidiary PSA, was approaching Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport when it struck the military helicopter conducting a training flight. Footage captured the moment of impact, showing a fireball illuminating the night sky before both aircraft plunged into the near-freezing waters. Authorities confirmed the crash but have yet to provide an official casualty count. However, multiple bodies have been recovered, with reports suggesting at least 18 fatalities.

Rescue efforts remain "extremely complex," with over 300 personnel deployed in harsh conditions, including strong winds, ice, and murky waters. Divers, inflatable boats, and helicopters equipped with powerful searchlights are scouring the area, with the Coast Guard providing additional support. Several members of the US figure skating community were reportedly on board the doomed flight, including Russia’s 1994 world champion pair Yevgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov. Officials anticipate that search operations will continue for several days as teams work to recover victims and debris.

The incident has raised serious concerns over aviation safety, with former President Donald Trump calling the collision preventable. He questioned why the helicopter did not take evasive action, given the clear night and visible approach of the plane. Trump also criticised air traffic control, suggesting they failed to properly direct the helicopter away from the jet’s path. Investigators will now focus on what led to the mid-air crash and whether proper protocols were followed to avert the disaster.

One of two data recorders found on plane that crashed into Potomac River, CBS News reports

A dive team has retrieved one of the two data recorders, commonly known as black boxes, from the American Airlines regional passenger plane that crashed near Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday, CBS News reported.

Kremlin confirms Russians were on board crashed US jet

The Kremlin confirmed on Thursday that Russian citizens were aboard the plane that crashed in Washington, acknowledging reports that a champion skater couple was among the victims. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated, "We sadly see these reports being confirmed. Our fellow citizens were on board." He extended condolences to the families and friends of the Russian passengers.

Here is a list of significant US plane crashes in recent years, after a passenger plane with 64 people aboard collided with a military helicopter carrying four and crashed into Washington DC's Potomac River Wednesday night.

Russian champion skating couple were on board crashed Washington plane (Agencies)

Russian figure skating couple Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, who won the 1994 world pairs title, were on board a US passenger jet that crashed in Washington on Wednesday, Russian news agencies reported.

The state TASS and RIA news agencies, both citing a source, reported on Thursday the pair were on board the crashed plane.

Multiple bodies recovered from Washington plane crash site: US media

Multiple bodies have been recovered from the Potomac River in Washington after the collision between a passenger jet and military helicopter, US media reported Thursday.

CBS News, quoting a police official, said "at least 18 bodies were recovered", while NBC said "more than a dozen" had been found, citing two sources familiar.