Divers return to the Potomac River as part of the recovery after the United States’ deadliest aviation disaster in almost a quarter century

An American Airlines plane carrying 60 passengers and four crew members collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter outside Reagan National Airport near Washington, D.C. Wednesday night. A D.C. fire official said Thursday that “we don't think there are any survivors from this accident" and "we are switching from a rescue operation to a recovery operation.

The names of the 60 passengers and four crew members on board began to emerge Thursday as authorities revealed there were likely no survivors of the fiery tragedy that was shaping up to be the

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday the Army Black Hawk helicopter that collided with a regional passenger jet in Washington, D.C. was flying too high at the time of the accident, in what appeared to be a major disclosure about the investigation.

Sixty-four people aboard a commercial airliner died Wednesday night after it collided with a military helicopter midair near Reagan Washington National Airport. Both the American Eagle jet and Army Black Hawk are in the Potomac River.

A preliminary report of the investigation will be issued in 30 days and a final report is expected within 12-18 months. (Reporting by Rajesh Kumar Singh and David Shepardson; Editing by Nick Zieminski) Copyright 2025 Thomson Reuters.