Washington DC air collision

On January 29, 2025, the skies over Washington, D.C., witnessed one of the deadliest aviation disasters in recent history. American Eagle Flight 5342, traveling from Wichita, Kansas, to Washington National Airport, tragically collided mid-air with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter. The accident claimed the lives of 64 passengers and crew members aboard the aircraft and 3 military personnel in the helicopter. Background Flight 5342, a Bombardier CRJ-701ER, was operated by American Eagle, a regional partner of American Airlines. Among its passengers were 28 figure skaters and coaches returning home from a championship event. At the same time, a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, engaged in a routine mission, was flying through the Potomac River air corridor. The fatal collision occurred due to a series of operational failures in air traffic control. Accident Details Investigations confirmed the crash occurred at 325 feet—far exceeding the 200-foot altitude restriction for helicopters in this corridor. A single air traffic controller was reportedly handling both aircraft, a deviation from standard aviation safety protocols. Eyewitnesses described a massive fireball in the sky as the two aircraft collided, scattering debris into the Potomac River. Rescue and Recovery Efforts Rescue teams, including the U.S. Coast Guard and local…