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  • 2025 Firestorms
    1. Rescue
    2. Water & Ice

    No Survivors after Mid-Air Collision Between Regional Jet, Black Hawk Helicopter at Reagan National Airport

    Jan. 30, 2025
    The American Eagle jet from Wichita with 64 souls on board was landing when it collided with the Sikorsky H-60.

    Update: As of  7:30 a.m., 27 bodies from the jet and one from the Black Hawk had been recovered. The operation had turned from a rescue to recovery. Among the 64 souls aboard the American Eagle flight were members and coaches of the U.S. and Russian Figure Skating Teams. 

     

    There are no survivors after a mid-air collision between a regional jet and a military helicopter at Reagan National Airport Wednesday night.

    D.C. Fire and EMS as well as crews from other Fairfax, Arlington and Alexandria searched the Potomac River  where both aircraft landed. The water temperature was 42 degrees. 

    The American Eagle flight from Wichita with 64 souls --- 60 passengers and four crew members -- aboard was landing at the airport about 9 p.m. when it collided with a Sikorsky H-60, with three on board.

    Fire and EMS crews saluted as the flag-draped remains of one of the military personnel was loaded into an ambulance.

    The operation -- that involved about 300 responders -- was switched from rescue to recovery, D.C. Fire and EMS Chief John A. Donnelly Sr. said Thursday morning.

    The D.C. medical examiner's office is heading the identification process.

    Peer support teams are available for crews who've been involved. 

     

     

    About the Author

    Susan Nicol | News Editor

    Susan Nicol is the news editor for Firehouse.com. She is a life member and active with the Brunswick Volunteer Ambulance & Rescue Company, Oxford Fire Company and Brunswick Vol. Fire Co. Susie has been an EMT in Maryland since 1976. Susie is vice-president of the Frederick County Fire/Rescue Museum. She is on the executive committee of Frederick County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association. She also is part of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) Region II EMS Council. Susie is a board member of the American Trauma Society, Maryland Division. Prior to joining the Firehouse team, she was a staff writer for The Frederick News-Post, covering fire, law enforcement, court and legislative issues. 

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