A tragic mid-air collision between a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter and a PSA Airlines regional jet near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport has resulted in multiple fatalities, with no survivors anticipated. The incident occurred around 9 p.m. Wednesday night as the American Airlines flight, originating from Wichita, Kansas, was preparing to land.

The Black Hawk, carrying three soldiers on a training mission from Fort Belvoir's Davidson Air Base, collided with the Bombardier CRJ700, which had 60 passengers and four crew members aboard. Among the passengers were figure skaters, coaches, and family members returning from a development camp following the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita. Two of the coaches have been identified as Russian figure skating champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, along with their son, a competitive U.S. figure skater.

Air traffic control recordings captured the moments leading up to the collision, with controllers initially directing Flight 5342 to Runway 33 before realizing the catastrophic event. Eyewitness accounts from air traffic controllers described a fireball and the subsequent disappearance of both aircraft into the Potomac River.

The crash site, situated in highly restricted airspace near the White House and Capitol, has prompted a swift response from emergency services, who have transitioned from a rescue to a recovery operation. Investigations are underway, led by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also involved. This tragic event marks a somber moment for the aviation community and the nation.

Newly appointed Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth was confirmed to be uninvolved in the incident but is closely monitoring the situation.