the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Washington DC, a devastating midair collision near Washington, D.C.’s Reagan National Airport has left all 64 passengers aboard American Airlines Flight 5342 and three crew members aboard a U.S. Army helicopter presumed dead, according to officials. The tragic accident, which occurred late Wednesday night, marks the first major U.S. commercial air disaster since 2009, when a Colgan Air flight crashed into a house in Buffalo, New York.
President Trump on Thursday addressed the deadly midair collision just outside Washington, D.C., as rescue crews searched for victims in the Potomac River and investigators worked to determine the cause of the crash.
What Happened?
According to early reports, air traffic controllers were aware of both aircraft before the collision. They reportedly instructed the Army helicopter pilots to pass behind the incoming jet—a directive that tragically failed to prevent the disaster.
⚠ Key details of the crash:
✈ Flight 5342, an American Airlines regional jet, collided midair with a U.S. Army helicopter
📍 Debris fell into the Potomac River
🌡 Frigid water temperatures (~35°F) made survival unlikely beyond 15-30 minutes
💔 Among the victims were 14 members of the figure skating community returning from a training event
Recovery Efforts and Investigation
🚁 Search teams have recovered 28 bodies from the water so far.
📄 The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will release a preliminary report within 30 days.
📹 Disturbing footage of the crash, captured from a distance, has surfaced online (viewer discretion advised).
A Nation in Mourning
The loss of life has sent shockwaves through the aviation and figure skating communities. This tragedy is a painful reminder of the fragility of air travel safety and the importance of continuous improvements in aviation protocols.
Our thoughts are with the families and loved ones of those lost in this heartbreaking accident.
Pray for all of the victims and their families.
How stoopid is it to have training missions near one of the busiest airports in the US…?
Because that is where they fly . . .
Right……..
They should have pilots fly in the area without training them on the unique characteristics of this particular airspace.
That would be MUCH SAFER… right ?