DC plane crash updates: Remains of 55 victims recovered and positively identified

All 67 people on board the plane and the helicopter were killed.

ByIvan Pereira, Meredith Deliso, and Emily Shapiro
Last Updated: February 2, 2025, 4:59 PM EST

An American Airlines regional jet went down in the Potomac River near Washington, D.C.'s Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport after colliding with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter on Wednesday night, with no survivors.

Sixty-four people were on board the plane, which departed from Wichita, Kansas. Three soldiers were on the helicopter.

The collision happened around 9 p.m. when the PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet was on approach to the airport.

Map of the area around Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and the layout of Runway 33, which the regional American Airlines jet was approaching at the time of the collision with the Army Black Hawk helicopter, according to officials.
ABC News, Google Earth, Flightradar24, ADS-B Exchange

Key Headlines

Here's how the news is developing.
Feb 01, 2025, 6:47 PM EST

Emotional NTSB investigator pleads for leaders to improve safety

NTSB investigator J. Todd Inman got emotional when asked about his interactions with the victims' families and others who have been directly impacted by the incident.

PHOTO: American Airlines Plane And Black Hawk Helicopter Crash Near Reagan National Airport
ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA - J. Todd Inman, member of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), speaks with members of the media at Reagan National Airport as the search continues at the crash site of the American Airlines plane on the Potomac River on January 31, 2025, in Arlington, Virginia. The American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas collided midair with a military Black Hawk helicopter while on approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. According to reports, there were no survivors among the 67 people on both aircraft. (Photo by Al Drago/Getty Images)
Al Drago/Getty Images

"They're all just hurt and they want answers and we want to give them answers," he said. "It's horrible. No one has to suffer this."

Inman held up a challenge coin that he had in his pocket with the inscription, "From tragedy we draw knowledge to improve the safety for us all."

"We need people to take action," he said noting hundreds of recommendations that his agency has made following several transportation-related incidents.

"Adopt the recommendation of the NTSB. You'll save lives. I don't want to meet with those parents again," Inman added.

Feb 01, 2025, 6:33 PM EST

Black Hawk was on a training mission, had night vision capabilities

NTSB investigator J. Todd Inman said that the Army copter was on a training mission and it would utilize night vision goggles.

"We do not know at this time if the night vision goggles were actively being worn," he said.

Feb 01, 2025, 6:32 PM EST

Air traffic controller alerted copter crew about plane 2 minutes before crash

The NTSB said that the air traffic controller alerted the helicopter crew about the American Airlines plane about two minutes before the crash, based on the data they have collected.

Feb 01, 2025, 6:24 PM EST

Black Hawk may have been flying higher than altitude ceiling limit: NTSB

NTSB investigator J. Todd Inman said the Black Hawk was flying at an altitude of 325 feet at the time of the collision, based on the preliminary data they have collected.

The tower cab data showed 200 feet near the time of the accident, according to Inman. There is a 200-foot ceiling for helicopters in that corridor above the Potomac River.

The investigator said more info needs to be collected to determine the discrepancy.

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