American Airlines Plane Crashes into Potomac River After Black Hawk Helicopter Collision: Recap

Crews Have Faced ‘Challenges’ While Recovering Remaining Bodies, Fire Chief Says

Crews have faced “challenges” while attempting to recover the remains of the victims killed in the Washington, D.C. plane crash, according to Chief of DC Fire and EMS John A. Donnelly Sr.

At a press briefing on Friday, Jan. 31, Donnelly said crews are “working as fast as we can” to recover the remaining bodies. Pieces of the plane will likely have to move in order to do so, he added.

“As we continue to learn more about the victims, we are sharing our prayers and condolences with the families of the loved ones,” Donnelly said.

Flight Number 5342 to be Retired by American Airlines

American Airlines has announced that flight number 5342 will no longer be in use following the midair crash over Washington, D.C., involving one of its planes, according to ABC News.

The airline did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.

Over 40 Bodies Pulled From Potomac River: Reports

Authorities said more than 40 bodies have been pulled from the Potomac River as crews search for victims of Wednesday’s crash, according to the Associated Press and NBC News.

Crews resumed the search for victims on Friday, Jan. 31. Three people were onboard the U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter and 64 people were on the American Airlines passenger plane when the collision occurred on Wednesday, Jan. 29.

Second Solider Aboard Black Hawk Helicopter Identified as Ryan O'Hara: Report

According to CBS News, Ryan O'Hara was the crew chief of the U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter that collided with American Airlines flight 5342.

O'Hara was a husband and father to a 1-year-old son, his local Reserve Officers' Training Corps program said in a social media post about his death, per the outlet.

2 Chinese Nationals and Filipino Police Officer Among Those Onboard American Airlines Flight: Reports

Two Chinese nationals were onboard American Airlines flight 5342, the Chinese Embassy in Washington said, citing preliminary information, per NBC News. The embassy did not identify the victims. The BBC also reported the news.

The Philippine National Police also confirmed that Colonel Pergentino Malabed was onboard the flight and called his death a "tragic loss."

"PCOL Malabed was on official travel at the time of the incident, fulfilling his duty as a dedicated police officer — committed to the service of protecting and securing both the PNP and the nation. His untimely passing is a profound loss to the PNP, where he served with honor, integrity, and dedication throughout his career," a statement on Facebook read.

American Airlines Flight 5342 Manifest Likely Due Friday Afternoon, Says Kansas Gov.

Speaking in a press conference on Thursday, Jan. 30, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly said she had spoken to the NTSB about when the flight manifest for American Airlines flight 5342 could be expected.

"I asked them exactly that question and they're waiting for all the families to be notified and there are some folks who overseas and so that's partially the reason for the delay, is really needing to get in touch with those families over there. But they expected that we'd likely have the manifest sometime tomorrow afternoon," Kelly noted.

Mississippi Gov. Confirms Identity of One of the Soldiers Aboard Black Hawk Helicopter

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves has confirmed the identity of one the soldiers who was aboard the Black Hawk helicopter, sharing on social media that one of the individuals was Andrew Eaves from Brooksville.

"Mississippi is mourning the loss of Brooksville native Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Eaves, who was killed in last night’s accident at Reagan National Airport," Reeves wrote in a statement on X.

At Least 40 Bodies Now Recovered: Report

As of the evening of Thursday, Jan. 30, at least 40 bodies had been recovered from the water, a law enforcement source told CBS News.

In a press conference that morning, Washington, D.C. Fire and EMS Chief John A. Donnelly confirmed that 27 bodies had been recovered from the plane and one from the helicopter.

NTSB Recovers 'Black Box' Flight Daya Recorder from American Airlines Plane

National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigators recovered the flight data recorder, also known as the "black box" from the Bombardier CRJ700 airplane, the NTSB said on X. The post also included photos of the recorder.

"NTSB investigators recovered the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder from the Bombardier CRJ700 airplane involved in yesterday’s mid-air collision at DCA. The recorders are at the NTSB labs for evaluation," the statement reads.

NTSB Will Leave 'No Stone Unturned' in Investigation

National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chair Jennifer L. Homendy said during an afternoon press conference on Jan. 30 that the organization would leave "no stone unturned" in its investigation into what went awry that caused a Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines airliner to collide on Wednesday night.

"We are all here because this is an all hands on deck event. And we’re here to assure the American people that we are going to leave no stone unturned in this investigation," said Homendy. "We are going to conduct a thorough investigation of this entire tragedy looking at the facts. With that I want to level set, when we go to the scene, and we were here last night, we allow the responders to do their important safety mission, which in this case was search and rescue and recovery.”

NTSB member Todd Inman said during the same press conference that there is no evidence that the plane's slides or chutes were deployed during the incident. "It was a very quick, rapid impact," said Iman.

Kansas Woman, 20, Who Was Returning from Grandfather's Funeral Killed in Crash

A young Kansas woman has been confirmed among those killed in the plane crash in Washington, D.C., her family said. She had been traveling back from Kansas, where she'd flown to attend her grandfather's funeral, according to the Kansas City Star.

Grace Maxwell, who is originally from Wichita, was a college student Cedarville University in Ohio. Authorities have not yet confirmed Maxwell's death to her family, her father said, nor if her body had been recovered from the Potomac.

“We don’t know,” Dean Maxwell told the outlet. “We do know she was on the plane."

Father of American Airlines Flight Pilot Says He Was Supposed to Get Married This Fall

One of the pilots of the American Airline flight that crashed in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 29 was engaged to be married, his father said in a Facebook post.

Sam Lilley, 28, was killed in the incident on Jan. 29. He was serving as the plane's first officer. His father, Timothy Lilley, wrote on Facebook, Thursday, "I was so proud when Sam became a pilot. Now it hurts so bad I can’t even cry myself to sleep. I know I’ll see him again but my heart is breaking. He was doing great in his career and his personal life. He was engaged to get married in the fall."

"It is so devastating to lose someone that is loved so much."

Black Hawk Helicopter Pilots Were Wearing Night Vision Goggles at Time of Crash

The pilots aboard the U.S. Army helicopter that collided with an American Airlines plane were wearing night vision goggles, according to Department of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. An expert tells PEOPLE, however, that could have hurt their ability to see other aircraft.

Night vision goggles are designed to enhance operational safety and improve a pilot's ability to see and avoid obstructions at night, per the FAA.

However, an active-duty U.S. Army pilot tells PEOPLE that the goggles may have actually hindered the pilots’ efforts to avert the crash with the airliner. 

“Those goggles are designed for situations where the only light is moonlight or starlight. If you already have a lot of things moving around and blinking, it could throw things off,” the pilot tells PEOPLE. “They could make it harder to see what's going on in the sky.” 

Read more here.

Pete Buttigieg Slams Trump's Critical Comments About Him During Plane Crash Press Conference

Pete Buttigieg has called Donald Trump's harsh comments about him and his tenure as the U.S. secretary of transportation "despicable."

During his press conference about the plane crash on Jan. 30, the president pointed a finger at Buttigieg while blaming numerous policies in relation to this week's incident.

"That's the guy's a real winner," said Trump. "Do you know how badly everything's run since he's run this Department of Transportation? He's a disaster."

Later on Thursday, Buttigieg wrote on X, "As families grieve, Trump should be leading, not lying. We put safety first, drove down close calls, grew Air Traffic Control, and had zero commercial airline crash fatalities out of millions of flights on our watch."

"President Trump now oversees the military and the FAA. One of his first acts was to fire and suspend some of the key personnel who helped keep our skies safe," he said. "Time for the President to show actual leadership and explain what he will do to prevent this from happening again."

Nancy Kerrigan Cries While Sharing 'Shock' at Loss of Boston Figure Skaters

Olympic medalist Nancy Kerrigan couldn't hold back her emotions while speaking about the deaths of members of the Boston Skating Club in the American Airlines plane crash during a TV interview with Boston 25 News on Thursday.

Kerrigan cried as she spoke of her "shock" at the loss of 14 U.S. figure skaters in the crash, sending love and well wishes to the victims' families.

"When you find out you know some of the people on the plane is an even bigger blow," said Kerrigan.

Figure Skating Legend Scott Hamilton Says Skating Community Is 'Shattered' by Plane Crash

Iconic American figure skater Scott Hamilton is wrapping his head around the tragic loss of 14 skaters in Wednesday night's D.C. plane crash. The athletes were returning from U.S. championships and a national development camp in Kansas.

"Nothing that can truly represent the devastation caused by the plane crash in Washington DC last night," wrote Hamilton. "A tragedy that claimed the lives of skaters, coaches, parents and officials."

He said, "My heart is shattered for our skating community. Please pray for the families!"

Figure Skating Sisters Everly and Alydia Livingston Confirmed Killed in Plane Crash

Sisters Everly and Alydia Livingston have been confirmed as among those killed in the American Airlines plane crash in Washington, D.C. The 11-year-old and 14-year-old were part of the U.S. figure skating contingent traveling back from competition and training in Kansas.

According to figure skating news outlet Golden Skate, the siblings were members of the Washington Figure Skating Club.

In a post on Instagram, the club said, "We are devastated to hear the news of American Eagle flight 5342. Our thoughts and prayers are with our skating family during this difficult time. More information will be posted when appropriate."

Public Schools in Local D.C. Area Confirm Former Students, Community Members Killed in Plane Crash

In letters to student parents on Thursday, multiple school districts in the Washington, D.C. area confirmed that community members were killed in the American Airlines plane crash.

Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia said in a letter to parents obtained by PEOPLE "that we have lost members of our FCPS family in the tragic accident at Reagan National Airport last night."

"I know you will join me in lifting up these families, friends, and all of those affected in the difficult days ahead. We are also appreciative to the many emergency officials who are responding to this tragedy," the school said, adding that crisis counseling would be available for students, staff and family members.

London County Public Schools in Virginia told parents in a similar letter on Thursday, also obtained by PEOPLE, that they "have learned that multiple victims were former LCPS students."

"Loss of this magnitude can bring a wave of emotions. Please know that you are not alone. We are here to support you, and we will navigate this difficult time together," said LCPS Superintendent Dr. Aaron Spence.

14 U.S. Figure Skaters Were Among Those Killed in the Crash

Fourteen U.S. figure skaters, including six members of The Skating Club of Boston, were onboard the American Airlines plane when it crashed on Wednesday, CEO Doug Zeghibe announced at a press conference on Thursday, Jan. 30.

The victims from The Skating Club of Boston have been identified as two teens, Spencer Lane and Jinna Han, their mothers, Molly Lane and Jin Han, and two coaches, Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, former Russian world champions.

Read more here.

Donald Trump Assures Investigation Will Uncover 'How This Disaster Occurred'

Donald Trump told the American public that answers will come in what caused the American Airlines and Black Hawk helicopter collision in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 29.

"We think we have some pretty good ideas," the president speculated of the crash. "We'll find out how this disaster occurred and make sure that nothing like this ever happens again."

Trump announced that he appointed an acting commissioner to the FAA for the investigation.

Said Trump, "We'll restore faith in American air travel."

Plane Crash Witness Says She's 'Still Shaking' from Watching Horrific Tragedy

Onlookers told the Washington Post of the horror of witnessing Wednesday night's plane crash in D.C., with one person noting she's "still shaking."

Courtney Cain, 28, was home at the nearby Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling when she heard a bang and looked out of her living room window. She witnessed a flash in the sky. Of what she saw, Cain told the Post, "I’m honestly still shaking."

Other witnesses described the sounds of the crash as something out of "a war zone."

Former President Joe Biden Shares Gratitude for First Responders to Plane Crash

Former President Joe Biden joined the other world leaders to mourn the victims of the American Airlines plane crash, writing in a statement on X that he and former First Lady Jill Biden "are praying for the families of the victims who tragically lost their lives in the plane and helicopter crash near DCA."

"We are immensely grateful to the brave first responders and emergency personnel on the scene," wrote Biden.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth Says Soldiers on Black Hawk Helicopter Had Night Vision Goggles

In a video message posted to X on Thursday, Jan. 30, newly-appointed Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth spoke out about the Black Hawk helicopter that collided with American Airlines Flight 5342, saying that the chopper had three soldiers on board and was on an "annual proficiency training flight" at the time of the crash.

"It was a fairly experienced crew that was doing a required annual night evaluation," Hegseth noted in his video message. "They did have night vision goggles."

Conditions on the evening of Jan. 29 were reported as being clear, and officials are working to rule out other variables, such as if the helicopter was "in the corridor and at the right altitude" at the time of the crash, according to Hegseth, who added, "It's a tragedy."

Former President Barack Obama Says 'Our Hearts Break' for Those Affected by the Crash, Thanks First Responders

Former President Barack Obama spoke out about the American Airlines Flight 5342 crash in a post shared on X on Thursday, Jan. 30, writing, "Our hearts break for the families who lost loved ones in the tragic plane and helicopter crash at DCA."

He added, "Michelle and I send our prayers and condolences to everyone who is mourning today" before thanking first responders, "who are doing everything they can to help under extremely difficult circumstances."

American Airlines Flight 5342 Is the Deadliest U.S. Plane Crash Since 2001

The Wednesday, Jan. 29 collision over the Potomac River is the deadliest U.S. aircraft incident to occur since Nov. 12, 2001, when American Airlines Flight 587 crashed into Belle Harbor, Queens, and killed all 260 individuals on board.

The Queens incident took place just two months after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, which claimed the lives of 2,996 individuals and remains the deadliest U.S. aircraft incident in history.

The Potomac River incident is also the first fatal commercial plane crash to take place in the U.S. since 2009, when a Bombardier DHC-8 propeller plane crashed close to Buffalo, N.Y., which resulted in the death of all 45 passengers as well as four crew members on board.

'Today We Are Grieving,' Says Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran

 In a statement obtained by PEOPLE, Kansas senator Jerry Moran called the accident '"tragic."

"Wichita is located in the heart of our nation and today we are grieving. I received confirmation this morning that no one survived the crash of American Airlines flight 5342," Moran said. "This is a sad day for Kansas and our nation as we awaken this morning to this tragic news ... There will be much to learn, and to do in the coming days in the wake of this tragedy."

The flight had departed from Wichita, Kansas. 

Miracle on the Hudson's Capt. Sully Says He's 'Devastated' by Plane Crash

Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger III — the pilot who safely landed a passenger plane on the Hudson River in 2009, saving the lives of 150 people — told The New York Times he's "just devastated" by the news of the American Airlines crash.

“We have the obligation to learn from every failure and improve,” he added, per the outlet.

In an interview with Good Morning America on Thursday, Jan. 30, Sullenberger, 74, said, "We have to realize how many things have to go right every day for us to have this now ultra-safe transportation industry … Any lapse could potentially be fatal, even though we have a lot of safety layers in there."

However, despite all the factors that go into safe air travel, Sullenberger noted that the likelihood of a crash like this was "infinitesimal."

'We Don't Believe There Are Any Survivors,' Says Washington, D.C. Fire and EMS Chief

After acknowledging the agencies who responded to the incident, Washington, D.C. Fire and EMS Chief John A. Donnelly said in a press conference on Thursday, Jan. 30, “Despite all those efforts we are now at a point where we are switching from a rescue operation to a recovery operation. At this point we don’t believe there are any survivors from this accident."

"We have recovered 27 people from the plane and one from the helicopter," Donnelly continued, adding that they will "continue to work to find all the bodies and collect them and reunite them with their loved ones.”

28 Bodies Confirmed Recovered from Potomac River as Authorities Move into Recovery Operation

Authorities in Washington, D.C., are now treating the search around the crash site as a '"recovery operation," Washington, D.C. Fire and EMS Chief John A. Donnelly said in a press conference on Thursday, Jan. 30.

Donnelly also confirmed to reporters that 27 bodies had been recovered from the American Airlines plane and one from the Sikorsky H-60 helicopter.

He added that authorities "don't believe there are any survivors." "The District Office of the Medical Examiner has lead on reuniting these bodies and these people with their loved ones and we will continue to work to find all the bodies and collect them and reunite them with their loved ones," Donnelly said.

More Than 30 Bodies Reportedly Recovered from the Potomac River

Emergency teams have reportedly recovered more than 30 bodies from the Potomac River, according to NBC4 Washington.

It follows a crash involving an American Airlines regional passenger plane carrying 64 people and a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter as they both approached Runway 33 of Reagan National Airport at around 9 p.m. local time on Wednesday, Jan. 29.

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Remains Closed Until at Least 11 a.m. ET

In the wake of the crash, Reagan National Airport, one of the largest airports in the country, will remain closed until at least 11 a.m. ET Thursday, Jan. 30, Jack Potter, the president and CEO of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, said at a news conference.

“Not only is it (one of) the busiest, it’s the most complex airport,” David Soucie, CNN Safety Analyst, said of Reagan. “There’s military and commercial together. There’s flight restrictions on where you can fly, what kind of approaches you have to make, and there’s demands on how quickly those airplanes have to come in and out.”

U.S. Skater Anton Spiridonov Confirms He Was Not Onboard American Airlines Flight 5342

Figure skater Anton Spiridonov has confirmed that he was not traveling on American Airlines Flight 5342.

“Russian news outlets have included me on a list of presumed people on the flight from Wichita to Washington D.C.," Spiridonov, who placed sixth in the 2023 U.S. Championships, shared on Instagram.

"I was NOT on this flight, thank you for everyone’s concern for my safety. My heart goes out to all the families affected by this tragedy," added the skater, who claimed silver for the U.S. in the 2023 World University Games.

American Airlines CEO Shares 'Deep Sorrow' Over Accident, Calls It a 'Difficult Day' for the Airline

In a video statement shared on the airline's website, American Airlines CEO Robert Isom expressed "our deep sorrow about these events." "This is a difficult day for all of us at American Airlines, and our efforts now are focused entirely on the needs of our passengers, crew members, partners, first responders, along with their families and loved ones," the statement began.

"I know that there are many questions, and at this early stage, I'll not be able to answer all of them," Isom continued, before sharing information about the flight and confirming the number of people onboard.

"We are actively working with local, state and federal authorities on emergency response efforts, and the American Airlines care team has been activated to assist our passengers and their families," Isom added. "We're cooperating fully with the National Transportation Safety Board in its investigation, and we'll continue to provide all the information we can. Our cooperation is without pause, and we want to learn everything we can about today's events. That work will take time, but anything we can do now, we're doing, and right now that means focusing on taking care of all passengers and crew involved, as well as their families."

At Least 19 Bodies Recovered: Report

At least 19 bodies had been recovered from the Potomac River by 2:50 a.m. ET, a law enforcement source familiar with the investigation told CBS News.

The official added to the outlet that no survivors had been found so far.

World Champion Russian Figure Skaters Reportedly Onboard American Airlines Flight

1994 pairs figure skating world champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were traveling on the American Airlines flight that crashed into the Potomac River on Wednesday, Jan. 29, reported Reuters and The Guardian, citing the TASS and RIA news agencies in Russia.

Shishkova and Naumov, who were reportedly married, lived in the U.S. Their son, Maxim, was traveling with them at the time of the accident, the outlets added.

Maxim had recently competed at the U.S. figure skating championships in Wichita, Kansas, according to Olympics.com, and has represented the U.S. in singles skating.

‘Several' U.S. Figure Skaters on American Airlines Flight

U.S. Figure Skating said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE that “several members of our skating community” were on the American Airlines plane involved in the incident.

“These athletes, coaches, and family members were returning home from the National Development Camp held in conjunction with the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas,” the governing body added.

“We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts,” U.S. Figure Skating continued. “We will continue to monitor the situation and will release more information as it becomes available.”

Officials Expresses Sorrow, but Say There's Not Much They Can Confirm Yet

In a late night press conference, officials stressed there was not much they could say about ongoing rescue operations, including whether bodies had been recovered from the water.

"The focus now is rescuing people and that’s what all of our personnel are focused on," said Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, later adding, "All we can confirm tonight is the number of people on each aircraft."

Asked directly if there were any survivors, DC Fire and EMS Chief John A. Donnelly said, "We don't know yet, but we are working."

Donnelly, who confirmed 300 responders are working, said search efforts are "highly complex" due to "extremely rough" conditions. Search-and-rescue operations are expected to take days.

Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority CEO Jack Potter also said that a center has been set up for friends and family who were already at the airport "to pick up loved ones."

Although officials did not announce any deaths, Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall said, "When one person dies it’s a tragedy, but when many, many, many people die it’s an unbearable sorrow."

Speaking live on CNN minutes later, Marshall stated that he had not received any confirmation of fatalities, but that "I’m just afraid it’s not a good situation."

"Way Too Soon to Tell Exactly What Happened," says Army Helicopter Pilot

"It is way too soon to tell exactly what happened, but this looks like a couple things went wrong,” according to an Army helicopter pilot who spoke to PEOPLE. 

"The tower asked the Black Hawk if they had the plane in sight, and the Black Hawk probably thought they did, but were looking at the wrong airplane,” the pilot adds. “It's tough to see at night, even for a pilot. You can miss things.”

The pilot says “that’s where” the Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System comes in. 

“It's a system that helps prevent mid-air collisions. It uses radio signals and radar to monitor aircraft, and it sends warnings to aircraft if they're in danger of a collision,” the pilot adds. “It works very well. But it has to be turned on. Did one or both aircraft forget to turn it on?”

The pilot reiterates that it’s “really too soon to know.” 

“This will take lots and lots of very careful work, combing through what happened,” the pilot adds.

-- Susan Katz Keating

American Airlines Flight Split in Half After Collision: Report

The American Airlines flight reportedly split in half after the collision on Wednesday, according to NBC4, citing two first responder sources.

According to the sources, the Army Black Hawk helicopter it collided with is upside down in the river, and rescuers cannot enter due to its precarious position.

Potomac River Water Is Very Cold

NBC Chief meteorologist Doug Kammerer said that at the time of the incident, the water temperature in the Potomac River was around 37 degrees Fahrenheit.

At that temperature, someone in the water has only 15 to 20 minutes before they start suffering from hypothermia, according to Kammerer.

3 U.S. Soldiers Were on Helicopter at Time of Crash

There were three American soldiers on board the Army aircraft, according to Reuters, ABC News and Fox News. 

“No senior officials onboard the Blackhawk helicopter that crashed into American Airlines flight near Reagan National Airport: U.S. Army official,” Jennifer Griffin, chief national security correspondent for Fox News, tweeted Wednesday, Jan. 29.

She added that according to the Army, there were three soldiers on board.

Witness Described Seeing Plane Moments Before Crash: ‘It Looked Very, Very Wrong’ 

During a live interview on NBC4, Ari Schulman said he was near the airport, driving on George Washington Memorial Parkway right before the crash took place.

“It looked very, very wrong,” Schulman said, sharing that he also saw “a stream of sparks” followed by a “very bright flash.”

Man Says He’s ‘Praying’ for His Wife, Who Was on Plane That Crashed

Speaking with CNN affiliate WUSA, Hamaad Raza said that his wife was on the plane – and that he’d received a text from his wife when the plane was about 20 minutes from landing. However, he said that his reply never got delivered. 

“I’m just praying that someone is pulling her out of the river right now as we speak,” Raza told the outlet.

Trump Has Been Briefed, Vance Asked for Prayers

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that President Donald Trump has been briefed on the situation.

“I have been fully briefed on the terrible accident which just took place at Reagan National Airport. May God Bless their souls," Trump said in a statement. "Thank you for the incredible work being done by our first responders. I am monitoring the situation and will provide more details as they arise.

Meanwhile, Vice President J.D. Vance asked for prayers.

Near-Miss Incidents Have Been on the Rise, But Midair Collisions Are 'Incredibly Rare,' Expert Says

CNN's aviation expert Pete Muntean — whose pilot mother died in a 2006 plane crash — said during a live broadcast that it's "very tragic on its face that [this crash] was even able to happen."

Noting recent near-miss incidents at airports nationwide, he added, "The warnings had been lighting up in red for years that there could be a collision on or near the runways of a commercial airport, and the NTSB investigated incident after incident involving commercial flights coming too close in contact — we're talking hundreds of feet on the runways at U.S. airports."

"A midair collision is something that is incredibly rare, and really has not included a commercial flight in decades," he continued.

4 People Removed from Potomac River Taken to Hospital

The Metropolitan Police Department said in a statement that multiple agencies are coordinating search and rescue efforts in the Potomac River and "there is no confirmed information on casualties at this time."

The four people were removed from the river and taken to a local hospital, according to NBC 4.

Audio Shows There Was No Response from Helicopter After Warnings from Air Traffic Control

According to the Associated Press, less than 30 seconds before the collision occurred, an air traffic controller was heard asking the helicopter if they could see the jet. Moments later, another call was made.

Flight tracking audio did not contain any response from the helicopter, but seconds after the calls, the crash took place.

The passenger jet was scheduled to land at 9:03 p.m. local time.

American Airlines Issues Statement and Shares Hotline for Loved Ones

In a statement at 10:00 p.m. local time, American Airlines confirmed the number of people on board American Eagle Flight 5342, which was traveling from Wichita, Kansas (ICT), to Washington, D.C.

"Our concern is for the passengers and crew on board the aircraft. We are in contact with authorities and assisting with emergency response efforts," their statement read.

"If you believe you may have loved ones on board Flight 5342, call American Airlines toll-free at 800-679-8215," they added. "Those calling from outside the U.S. can visit news.aa.com for additional phone numbers. Family members in Canada, Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands can call 800-679-8215 directly."

Maryland Gov. Is ‘Closely Monitoring’ Situation

“We are closely monitoring the aviation collision incident that occurred earlier this evening near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport," Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said in a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter. "The State of Maryland and local authorities are engaged in response."