DC crash investigators recover cockpit voice recorder and flight data from doomed American Airlines plane: Live updates

The National Transportation Safety Board has shared a series of photographs from the recovered cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder.

These pictures show that the recorders are now with labs for evaluation as investigators work to determine what went wrong during the fatal flight.

In a crucial development, two black boxes from the American Airlines flight have now been recovered.

These are the flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder.

This will be of monumental assistance to authorities as they investigate what exactly happened in the moments leading to disaster.

David Hoagland, President of the DC Firefighters Association, revealed on Thursday night the harrowing scenes first responders were confronted with.

'It’s graphic. They encountered people inside the plane still strapped in their seats, and they weren’t able to remove them right away,' Hoagland said.

'Today, a lot of the effort has been focused on removing people from inside the plane who they were not able to remove last night, as well as just continuing to scan the entire area to see who they can locate.'

Captain Chesley 'Sully' Sullenberger has said he believes flying at night over water could be factors in what led to a American Airlines flight colliding with a helicopter, killing 67 people.

Sully, who famously landed a passenger plane on the Hudson River in 2009, told The New York Times the two factors could have made avoiding the chopper harder.

He said: 'There would have been fewer ground lights visible over the water than over land at night.'

Chief Warrant Officer 2, Andrew Eaves has been identified as the pilot on board the Black Hawk Army helicopter.

The beloved husband and father-of-two was one of three soldiers aboard the aircraft conducting a training operation.

His devastated wife, Carrie, said: 'I am sure by now all of you have heard the news of the tragedy that has occurred in DC.

'My husband was one of the pilots in the Blackhawk. We ask that you pray for our family and friends and for all the other families that are suffering today. We ask for peace while we grieve.'

She has shared several photos of Eaves, one of which he was in uniform, and asked her friends to share photos they may have of him in his memory.

Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves confirmed his death on Thursday night, taking to X to write: '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.'

Vanderbilt University and Penn Law graduate Sarah Lee Best was tragically killed on the flight, returning home after conducting a deposition with her colleague, Elizabeth Keys.

Keys was tragically celebrating her birthday on the day of her death.

The duo worked together at Wilkinson Stekloff litigation in the Washington DC office.

Founder Beth Wilkinson said: 'We are heartbroken by this terrible tragedy. Liz and Sarah were cherished members of our firm - wonderful attorneys, colleagues, and friends.

'Beyond being an excellent lawyer, Liz brought fearlessness, humor, and sharp wit to work every day, no matter the setting or circumstances.

'Sarah joined us just last fall and quickly energized us all with her boundless curiosity, kindness, and intelligence.

'It is hard to imagine the firm without them. We are keeping them in our memories and their families in our thoughts and prayers.'

Pictured: Elizabeth Keys

Pictured: Sarah Lee Best

An insider has told CNN there are 14 victims' remains who authorities have not yet been able to rescue.

Efforts were suspended as darkness fell on Thursday night, but will resume Friday morning.

A former beauty pagaent contestant and civil rights attorney has been named among the casualties.

Kiah Duggins had been visiting her mom in her hometown of Wichita but was returning to Washington DC, where she worked for Civil Rights Corps.

She had earned a degree from Harvard Law School and served as a White House intern under former First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let Girls Learn initiative.

It is with a heavy heart that the Miss Augusta and Miss Butler County organization just learned that Kiah Duggins Miss Butler County 2014, 2015 was [among] passengers in the plane that crashed last evening in Washington DC,' former pageant director, Larry Strong, revealed.

'Keep the rest of the family in your thoughts and prayers at this difficult time. Kiah was top 10 finalist in 2014 and 2015 at the Miss Kansas Pageant. Kiah was preparing to be a law professor at Howard University in the fall.'

The Chinese embassy in the U.S. said two Chinese nationals were among the victims of the crash and would provide consular protection and assistance.

It also has asked the U.S. side to verify the information, officially inform the Chinese side and provide assistance to the families of the victims.

“The Chinese Embassy extends deepest condolences to all the victims and sympathies to the bereaved families,” an embassy statement said.

It did not offer further details on the victims.

Even in peak flying conditions, experts said the airspace around Reagan Airport can challenge the most experienced pilots, who must navigate hundreds of other commercial planes, military aircraft and restricted areas around sensitive sites.

'This was a disaster waiting to happen,' Ross Aimer, a retired United Airlines captain and chief executive officer of Aero Consulting Experts, told AP.

'Those of us who have been around a long time have been yelling into a vacuum that something like this would happen because our systems are stretched to extremes.'

DC Fire revealed on Thursday night that divers have 'searched all areas that are accessible.'

'The investigation and recovery efforts remain active,' a spokesperson said in a statement to X.

'Tomorrow, divers will work with NTSB to conduct additional searches to locate aircraft components, to support the investigation, and begin operations to salvage the aircraft.

'Overnight, boats will remain on scene for security and surface searches from local, state, and federal regional partners.'

Former National Transportation Safety Board investigator Greg Feith revealed on Thursday that the Black Hawk helicopter was almost 200 feet off where it should have been at the time of the crash.

'Why were the military pilots almost 200 feet off the restricted altitude?' he asked in an interview with CNN.

'The ceiling on those routes is 200 feet. And if they had been at 200 feet, they would have passed underneath the [regional jet] because the [regional jet] was at about 400 feet.'

This should, and will likely, form part of the investigation, he said.

'Why were they off their altitude, given the fact that they are very disciplined?' Feith asked.

'They knew the routes, their experience, so that of course is going to be an issue.'

The flight path was canceled on Thursday as a result of the tragedy, but American Airlines has confirmed it will resume on Friday.

The direct flight operates daily since it was introduced in January 2024.

Just 24 hours before the tragic plane crash, another jet had to abort a landing at the very same airport after a helicopter appeared near its flight path.

A grief-stricken widow who lost her husband on American Airlines Flight 5342 when it crashed in Washington DC has revealed they had to make a split decision on who would be on the flight.

Natalya Gudin and her husband Alexandr Kirsanov coached two young figure skaters and had to decide which one of them would accompany them to Kansas for the National Development Camp for figure skating.

Her husband was the one who ended up making the trip alongside the two kids, who all lost their lives in the midair collision.

Speaking with ABC News, Gudin said: 'I lost everything. I lost my husband. I lost my students. I lost my friends.'

Gudin last spoke with her husband on Wednesday afternoon when he was at the gate at the airport in Wichita, Kansas.

Kirsanov told her: 'It's time for boarding', before making a plan to talk again once he had touched down at Reagan National Airport - but the call never came.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14344291/washington-dc-plane-crash-Alexandr-Kirsanov-decision-saved-life.html

Gary O'Hara was watching television on the couch at his Midway, Georgia, home on Wednesday night when he saw the breaking news: a commercial plane had collided with a military helicopter.

He told the Washington Post: 'I just had a gut feeling when I saw the story breaking.'

About 10am Thursday, two Army officials knocked on his door to deliver the horrific news, his 28-year-old son Ryan was among the casualties.

One body has been pulled from the helicopter wreckage so far. The search is ongoing for the two remaining pilots on board, as well as dozens of passengers on the American Airlines plane that also went down.

Ryan, a new father, is the only confirmed victim from the helicopter so far.

'As a parent, how do you take the news like this and not be totally broken?'

'His mother and I and his sister are just absolutely devastated to think we were talking to him just yesterday and we’ll never have the opportunity to talk with him again.'

Retired Army chief warrant officer Jonathan Koziol told ABC News the trio were 'very experienced.'

Crew Chief Ryan O'Hara individually had hundreds of hours of flight time logged, while the male instructor pilot running the training drill had 'more than 1,000 hours of flight time.'

The female pilot commanding the flight at the time had also logged more than 500 hours, Koziol said.

'Both pilots had flown this specific route before at night -- this wasn't something new to either one of them,' he said.

'These are our top pilots doing this National Capital Region.'

While the pilot being evaluated was at the wheel, if something were to have gone wrong, the instructor likely would have taken control, the publication stated.

Recovery efforts are winding down for the day, CNN reports, as darkness sets in and conditions on the water deteriorate.

It is understood that about 40 bodies have now been pulled from the wreckages, meaning there are still about two dozen trapped inside.

Authorities are reportedly confident they will recover every body.

Four of the victims of the crash were from overseas, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly said.

'There are some folks who were on that plane who were from overseas and so that’s partially the reason for the delay,' Kelly said at a news conference Thursday afternoon.

She later confirmed the number was four.

It is unclear if their families have been notified.

On any other weekday morning at 11am, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport would have already been buzzing with passengers for hours.

But on Thursday, a sense of dread hung over one of the busiest airports in the United States as passengers arrived for the first flights - hours after the nation’s deadliest commercial plane crash in 15 years.

'When you walk through right now, it's kind of eerie,' commented passenger Alexis Reyes, 43 of Las Cruces, New Mexico, who was trying to make her way home. 'It's kind of scary and kind of like - on-edge.'

Daniel Kocke, a 47-year-old Department of Defense employee based in St. Louis shared Reyes' sentiment.

'This is incredibly somber,' he said. 'The fact that not even 12 hours ago you've got a plane go down at the same airport you're getting ready to take off at, is eye-opening I would say, right? It doesn't make me feel real good about flying.'

CEO of American Airlines Robert Isom has come under fire on social media for the 'disrespectful' outfit he wore to film a video statement regarding Wednesday night's plane crash.

Isom issued a heartfelt message to family members whose loved ones were onboard the passenger flight that crashed with a military helicopter at Reagan International Airport in Washington, D.C. just before 9pm.

The businessman was dressed in a navy blue pullover, which featured a zip and wore a white shirt underneath, but many people were unimpressed with his casual attire.

A heavy atmosphere hung over Fairfax Ice Arena on the Virginia-DC border late Thursday evening after news came in that a number of the rink’s young skaters and their parents tragically died in the DC plane crash.

Local families in the sleepy Virginia suburb of Mantau were seen arriving at the rink with flowers to pay their respects a day after the crash.

It is not clear how many young skaters who died in the crash were associated with the rink, however staff told DailyMail.com that victims were attendees, describing the disaster overnight Wednesday as a ‘tragedy for us.’

Management at the rink said they planned to speak about the devastating news soon, and urged ‘sensitivity’ toward grieving families in the community.

Nate Shaffer wrote: 'I'm still waiting to wake up from this nightmare, but I fear this is the truth. Wendy was not just beautiful on the outside, but was a truly amazing woman through and through.

'She was the best wife, mother, and friend that anyone could ever hope for. Her love, kindness, and strength touched everyone she met.

'We will miss you more than words can express, Wendy Jo. I love you endlessly! Rest in peace, my love.'

Bill Melugin shared a moving tribute to mom of two Wendy Shaffer, who was on board the doomed flight on Wednesday evening.

'It is with great regret that I can confirm a friend of mine, Wendy Shaffer, lost her life in the AA plane crash last night,' he wrote.

'Wendy was an incredible wife to my friend Nate, and an amazing mom of two children, ages 3 and 1.

'I met them both when they were dating when I was working in Charlotte, NC. Always smiling, such a sweetheart. Heartbroken for Nate.

'We go from joking in our fantasy football group chat to this horrible news.'

Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday afternoon to ban DEI programs at the Federal Aviation Administration.

The new order came just hours after Trump held an extraordinary press conference where he blasted DEI at the FAA and claimed, without evidence, that it caused the crash.

Asked point blank if he was aware of any performance issues or disciplinary actions with anyone working at DCA's air control tower or the aircraft during the crash, Trump responded: 'No.'

But at another point, asked race and gender played a role in the tragic accident, Trump said: 'It may have, I don't know. Incompetence might have played a role.'

The Fairfax County school district emailed parents with 'devastating' news that three of its students and six parents were killed in the DC plane crash.

'Many are reaching out to share their sorrow and emotions at this difficult time. We are hearing from students, staff members, and others in the community who are expressing their care and concern for those who have lost loved ones,' it read.

'Many on the flight were returning from a figure skating event in Wichita, Kansas.

'What we know at this time is that three of our FCPS students and six of our FCPS parents were lost, affecting multiple schools and departments here at FCPS. Two of the parents were current or former FCPS staff members.

'Multiplying the grief are the siblings, spouses, relatives, friends and colleagues who have lost loved ones.'

Youth ice dance partners Angela Yang and Sean Kay were on the fateful flight back from the US Figure Skating Championships and National Development Camp in Wichita, Kansas, with their coach.

Yang and Kay were killed alongside their coach, Alexandr Kirsanov, the coach's wife confirmed.

They were members of The University of Delaware Figure Skating Club, according to social media posts from the organization.

Donald Trump was asked in the Oval Office if he planned to 'visit the site' where the plane and helicopter crashed into the Potomac River in DC.

'You tell me, what's the site? The water? You want me to go swimming?' he replied.

The reporter clarified that she meant him visiting the general area to meet with first responders who worked all night searching for survivors.

'I don't have a plan to do that,' Trump replied, 'But I will be meeting with some people who were very badly hurt, with their family member obviously, but I'll be meeting with some of the families, yeah.'

There were no survivors of the crash so there are no injured victims for Trump to meet with.

It was not clear if he meant first responders were hurt while scouring the debris, but no injuries have been reported as yet.

Trump moments earlier said he had no plans to meet with the families of victims, and appeared to change his mind on the fly.

National Transportation Safety Board officials refused to get into whether there was any truth to Donald Trump's claim that the crash was caused by DEI programs at the FAA.

They also didn't elaborate on a leaked internal preliminary report that found air traffic control staffing at Reagan National was 'not normal for the time of day and volume of traffic' and controllers were more overworked than usual.

NTSB Board Member Todd Inman said it was too early to know whether human error, mechanical issues, or systemic problems contributed.

“We don’t know what we know just yet. We do not know enough facts to be able to rule in or out human factor, mechanical factors,' he said.

'That is part of the NTSB investigative process where all of these groups will come together.'

NTSB chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said the investigation would look at 'human, machine and the environment' to figure out what happened and why.

'We will look at all the humans that were involved in this accident,' she said.

'We will look at the aircraft, we will look at the helicopter and we will look at the environment in which they were operating in.'

The NTSB plans to compile a preliminary report within 30 days.

The deadly collision of a Black Hawk and passenger jet in Washington DC shocked the nation Wednesday, sparking an investigation into what caused the mid-air crash.

There have been at least 10 major accidents that killed more than 40 soldiers since 2014 on American soil, including the three who lost their lives during a training flight last night.

Lockheed Martin, the sole manufacturer of the Black Hawk, was sued in 2017 by the widow of a UH-60 crew chief who died in a crash on a Maryland golf course.

The suit claimed that the company knew some of the helicopter's components were 'unfit, unsafe, unairworthy and defective.'

United States Olympic figure skating legend Nancy Kerrigan broke down in tears as she spoke to reporters on Thursday outside the Boston skating club that lost six members of its group in the DC plane crash.

Kerrigan, 55, said she had watched the news all night after learning about the tragic events that occurred on Wednesday night.

'We’ve been through tragedies before as Americans, as people, and we’re strong. I guess it’s how we respond to it and my response is to be with people I care about,' she said. 'We just wanted to be here and be part of our community.

'I needed support, so that’s why I’m here. It's a shock. I was watching all night (on television) and when you find out you know some of the people on the plane it is an even bigger blow.

'We just wish them well, the families, the courage and the strength to make the next steps.'

National Transportation Safety Board member Todd Inman said pilots appeared to have no time to react after hitting the helicopter.

'Right now, we’re going through the debris fields. Nothing we’ve seen would indicate that maybe slides or shoots were deployed. It was a very quick, rapid impact,' he said.

An aviation expert has revealed that the passengers aboard the plane that crashed in Washington DC would have had terrifying final moments if they survived the impact with the Army chopper.

Former U.S. Air Force navigator Jim Brauchle said the crash near the Reagan National Airport happened in a matter of seconds, and it's likely the passengers never realized what was happening, as the impact would have killed most of them instantly.

'Based on what we know about the accident I don't think they had any advanced warning that anything was gonna happen,' Brauchle, an aviation attorney, told DailyMail.com on Thursday.

'I think they would have had the impact and then the fall into the water, and if they had survived [the impact], obviously, it was a terrifying last minute or so of their lives.'

Crash investigators are yet to recover the black boxes for the plane and helicopter as they were still at the bottom of the Potomac River.

National Transportation Safety Board member Todd Inman said the investigation would not begin in earnest until the bodies were recovered.

'We feel comfortable and confident that we will be able to,' he said at a press conference on Thursday afternoon.

'Right now, recovery of life is probably the most important.'

Black boxes, which are actually orange, contain flight data and communications recorded during the flight and are crucial to investigating plane crashes.

NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said investigators had plenty of other information to work with for the moment, and needed to verify much of it.

'It’s not that we don’t have information. We do have information, we have data. We have substantial amounts of information - we need to verify information. We need to take our time to make sure it is accurate,' she said.

Tennessee Garvey, a pilot and the chair of the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals, hit back at Donald Trump's claim that DEI programs at the FAA lowered standards and contributed to the crash.

'Diversity hiring initiatives have never been attributed to any aviation accidents or incidents, so it sends the wrong information and it also sends miscommunication about truly what diversity hiring is,' he told CNN.

Trump offered no evidence for his claim, and Garvey, who has been in the industry for 22 years, said, 'I’ve never seen anything like that'.

'There’s very stringent standards in place that have allowed, you know, especially aviation within the United States, to be very safe,' he said.

'Irrespective of your background and, again, or your skin color, everyone has to go through the same training program.'

Garvey said there were ongoing training programs to make sure pilots, controllers, and other staff were the best in the business.

He said 'there have been never lowering of any standards', and, if anything, they had improved over the years.

Will Potter on the ground at Reagan National spoke to passengers as they began to return to the terminals after flights resumed.

The crash site where 60 passengers lost their lives is within view of passengers arriving at Reagan, where numerous emergency vehicles continue working on the Potomac River site.

American Airlines passenger Amanda, who was flying with her teenage daughter, said being able to see the crash site from the airport made her ‘a little nervous'.

‘I don’t usually fly much so it is a little unsettling,' she told DailyMail.com.

‘But it was just a freak accident, and I do feel safe flying out of here again. Maybe because it was an incoming flight, and we’re just going home.’

A helper with a charity welcoming international students said she heard from some of the foreign arrivals, who were nervous flying in this morning just hours after seeing the news.

DailyMail.com's deputy political editor gives a blow-by-blow account of Trump's extraordinary press conference on Thursday morning.

Ryan O'Hara from Georgia was on board the doomed helicopter when it plunged into the Potomac River on Wednesday night.

He was one of three Army soldiers on an annual proficiency training flight.

O'Hara had a wife and a one-year-old son.

These are the crash victims identified so far:

• Spencer and Christine Lane
• Evgenia Shishkova
• Vadim Naumov
• Jinna and Jin Han
• Asra Hussain
• Inna Volyanskaya
• Samuel Lilley - First officer
• Jonathan Campos - Captain
• Danasia Elder - Flight attendant
• Ian Epstein - Flight attendant

This list will be updated in the attached article as more identities are confirmed.

Air traffic control staff numbers at Reagan National Airport was 'not normal for the time of day and volume of traffic' and controllers were more overworked than usual.

That is one of the findings of an internal preliminary Federal Aviation Administration safety report on Wednesday night's air disaster seen by the New York Times.

Reagan National has been understaffed for many years, with just 19 fully certified controllers as of September 2023 - well below the target of 30 - according to the most recent Air Traffic Controller Workforce Plan submitted to Congress.

The situation appeared to have improved since then, as a source told CNN the Reagan National control tower was 85 percent staffed with 24 of 28 positions filled.

Chronic understaffing at air traffic control towers is nothing new, with well-known causes including high turnover and budget cuts.

Controllers frequently work 10-hour days, six days a week, to fill the void.

The preliminary crash report detailed that the lack of staff meant the controller monitoring and directing helicopters near DCA was also instructing planes landing and departing on the runways.

Usually, two controllers would handle these roles, as staff use two different radio frequencies to talk to planes and helicopter pilots.

While the controller is talking to them, the pilots of each aircraft may not be able hear each other.

Reagan International Airport is almost a ghost town 18 hours after the crash, with a large number of flights still cancelled and most airline check-ins having no lines, reports Will Potter in Washington DC.

A larger an expected police presence is stationed inside and outside the airport.

There are seemingly more journalists than passengers at the departures terminal, including dozens stationed along the normally busy main road within view of the crash site.

Several runways, with scattered flights beginning again, stand between the airport terminal and the crash site, which is within view of waiting passengers around 500m from the windows.

One expectant passenger said her flight was cancelled, but when asked how she felt she said the crash ‘put it in perspective’.

DailyMail.com reporter Emma James landed at Reagan National from Kansas City minutes before Flight 5342 from Wichita went down.

This is what she saw in the chaos that followed.

US Olympic and Paralympic Committee chief executive Sarah Hirshland made a statement after at least a dozen figure skaters were killed in the crash.

'Today we join in mourning the profound loss of the passengers aboard Flight 5342 and all those impacted by this tragedy,' she said.

'We are devastated, and there are truly no words to capture the depth of our sorrow.  Among those lost were talented athletes, dedicated coaches, and beloved family members from the US Figure Skating community, all returning home from the National Development Camp.

'These Olympic hopefuls represented the bright future of Team USA, embodying the very essence of what it means to represent our country – perseverance, resilience and hope.

'They were remarkable young people and talents, passionately pursuing their dreams, and they will forever hold a cherished place in the Team USA family.

'Our thoughts and prayers are with their families, friends, and the communities that nurtured and supported them.

'We extend our sincerest condolences during this unimaginable time.'

American figure skater Jon Maravilla, who missed the flight because their airline wouldn't let his dog on board, said there were 14 skaters on board the plane - plus their coaches, staff, and families.

They were in Wichita for the US Figure Skating Championships, along with a developmental camp for young skaters.

Despite coming from around the country for the event, the contingent made up more than half the passengers on Flight 5342 to Washington DC.

That's because few flights were headed out of Wichita to the Northeast on Wednesday, so the skaters were connecting through Reagan National.

Almost all flights out of Wichita go to the Midwest, Great Plains, and Texas, with Atlanta the only other destination on the eastern seaboard.

'It was the only flight out of Wichita today to the east coast, unless you want to count Atlanta, which is more southeast,' one skater wrote online in the hours after the crash.

American Airlines called off the following Flight 5342 on Thursday, the same route involved in the crash, but still has its Friday takeoff scheduled.

The airline also cancelled Flight 5499, which was due to fly from Reagan National to Wichita at 2.21pm on Thursday.

Other flights in and out of both airports are still running after DCA reopened at 11am.

Louden County school distrcit superintendent Aaron Spence said several people who once studied there were on board the plane when it crashed.

'This unimaginable loss has deeply affected our community, and with great sorrow, we have learned that multiple victims were former LCPS students,' he said.

'Many other Loudoun families have also been impacted, and we extend our deepest condolences to all those grieving in the wake of this tragedy.'

A Milwaukee father of two has shared a shocking video of two helicopters flying eerily close to a commercial plane in Washington DC last week.

Kyle Salewski, a Technical Solutions Engineer at Direct Supply, was onboard a passenger jet about six days ago when he saw the choppers gliding near his window over Reagan International Airport.

The short clip, which was posted on X, showed the copters flying in a straight file and landing on a base near the airport mere feet away from Salewski's plane.

The engineer suggested that 'something like this' may have been what caused the American Airlines Flight tragic crash last night.

'I took this video 6 days ago leaving Reagan International Airport and thought it was kind of crazy seeing these choppers right next to us. I wonder if it was something like this that caused the collision tonight,' he captioned the video.

It remains unclear if the choppers in the engineer's videos belonged to the military or were owned privately.

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer lashed out at the president for claiming, without evidence, that DEI at the FAA caused the crash.

'It’s one thing for internet pundits to spew off conspiracy theories,' he said.

'It’s another [for] the president of the United States to throw out idle speculation as bodies are still being recovered and families are still being notified. It just turns your stomach.'

Former transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg also hit back after was singled out by Trump as 'a disaster as a mayor... and he's a disaster now, He's just got a good line of bulls**t'.

“Despicable. As families grieve, Trump should be leading, not lying,” Buttigieg wrote on Twitter.

'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.

'Time for the president to show actual leadership and explain what he will do to prevent this from happening again.'

President Donald Trump was asked by reporters why he was blaming DEI in air-traffic controllers when it appeared the military pilot may have been at fault, and even basic information about the disaster was still being investigated.

'Because I have common sense, OK, and unfortunately, a lot of people don’t,' he replied, before launching back into his earlier talking points.

President Donald Trump used his first speech on the DC air disaster as an opportunity to bash DEI policies under Joe Biden and at the FAA.

Trump claimed, without citing any evidence, that DEI policies caused standards among air traffic controllers to degrade - implying they immediately equal incompetent.

All but a few minutes of his press conference was used to attack DEI, Biden, and other Democrats.

But Trump also appeared to blame both air traffic control and the US Army Black Hawk pilot whose helicopter collided with the plane.

He claimed 'the warnings were given very, very late' and that 'it should have been brought up earlier', without explaining what led him to that conclusion.

However, he also said the military pilots should have avoided the plane.

'The people in the helicopter should have seen where they were going. I can’t imagine people with 20-20 vision not seeing what’s happening up there,' he said.

“We had a situation where we had a helicopter that had an ability to stop... You could have slowed down the helicopter, you could have stopped the helicopter,’' or gone up or down, he said, but 'for some reason, it just kept going'.

Trump admitted, when pressed by reporters, that the investigation was only just beginning.

Dennis Tajer, an experienced pilot and spokesperson for the Allied Pilots Association, said Reagan National Airport was notoriously difficult to land at, and made worse by congestion.

'It’s a precarious balance of security and jamming in as many airplanes as you can get in there, because demand is so high,' he told CNN

'I don’t mean that as pejorative... however, you can lose track of the balance of the safety margin across the entire US with strained air traffic control systems.'

Tajer said it was also a difficult approach to spot another plane when air traffic control warned of a nearby aircraft, as the city's light reflect off the water.

'It’s a very challenging environment to call out, "Yes, I have visual with the aircraft that you’re identifying", and then that’s trusting that you’re seeing the right airplane,' he said.

Captain Jonathan Campos and First Officer Samuel Lilley were the pilots of the American Airlines plane that went down in DC after colliding with an army helicopter.

Newly-engaged Lilley, 29, was months away from being promoted to captain in a career that he adored, his father Timothy said.

Lilley Sr said he himself was a former Army Black Hawk pilot and flew the same route as the helicopter involved in the collision.

'Samuel was in the prime of his life. He was engaged to a beautiful, wonderful girl and we were all excited about her joining the family,' he told DailyMail.com.

The Federal Aviation Administration lost its entire top leadership before the mid-air collision that killed 67 people.

FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker resigned the day before Donald Trump took office, well short of the end of his five-year term that started in October 2023.

Whitaker frequently clashed with SpaceX owner, and 'First Buddy' of Trump, Elon Musk over the FAA's oversight of rocket launches.

Musk called for Whitaker to resign last September amid his frustrations with complying with FAA paperwork and safety and environmental concerns.

The FFA also doesn't have a deputy administrator or associate administrator of airports, an associate administrator for security and hazardous materials safety, chief counsel, assistant administrator of communications, assistant administrator of government and industry affairs and assistant administrator for policy, international affairs and environment, according to its website.

Trump also fired Transportation Security Administration chief David Pekoske on Inauguration Day, and has not hired his replacement, or a deputy.

Sports teams from the Washington DC area have offered their condolences following the tragic plane crash near Ronald Reagan airport on Wednesday night, which has left 60 passengers and four crew members presumed to be dead.

The tragedy, which occurred when an American Airlines plane collided with an Army helicopter, is believed to have killed 14 people from the figure skating community.

And the likes of the Washington Nationals, Wizards, Commanders and DC United have led the tributes from the sports world in the wake of the horrific accident.

President Donald Trump issued an extraordinary attack on diversity and inclusion and suggested the controversial hiring policies were to blame for one of the deadliest plane crashes in U.S. history.

The commander-in-chief said the collision that took 67 lives was a 'tragedy of terrible proportions' and that those flying the Black Hawk helicopter should have 'seen where they were going'.

He added that he had some 'pretty good ideas' of how the disaster occurred and vowed to make sure it would never happen again.

Trump then said he put 'safety' first while Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden prioritized politics and called former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg a 'disaster' in an extraordinary attack on previous administrations.

'The initiative is part of the FAA diversity and inclusion hiring plan. Think of that. The initiative is part of the FAA diversity and inclusion hiring plan.

'He was a disaster as a Mayor. He ran his city into the ground and he's a disaster now. He's just got a good line of bulls***', Trump said of Buttigieg.

A top Republican who was a former helicopter flight surgeon detailed what the pilots of the Army Black Hawk would have likely seen immediately before the fatal plane crash in Washington, D.C.

Rep. Mark Green (R-Tenn.) revealed that the military helicopter pilots could have been blinded by city lights immediately before the deadly crash.

A former flight surgeon for the Army's 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, Green, 60, served in Afghanistan and Iraq. He was the special operations flight surgeon on the mission that captured Saddam Hussein.

Speaking with Fox News' America's Newsroom on Thursday morning, Green shared that city lights around D.C. and Virginia may have impacted the pilots who were likely using night-vision goggles at the time.

'There is a lot of lights in that area. It can sometimes make using the night vision goggles difficult,' Green shared.

During his speech this morning, Donald Trump confirmed that he is immediately appointing an acting commissioner to the FAA - Christopher Rocheleau.

Rocheleau is a 22-year veteran of the agency.

'I’m also immediately appointing an acting commissioner to the FAA, Christopher Rocheleau. A 22-year veteran of the agency, highly respected. Christopher, thank you very much, appreciate it,' the president said at the White House briefing.

Rocheleau is currently serving as deputy administrator - and he was in the room when Trump made the announcement on Thursday morning.

The former FAA administrator Mike Whitaker resigned on Inauguration Day after he served for just more than a year.

This comes as the first flights out of Reagan Airport took off just after 11am, following the fireball collision on Wednesday night.

Two Southwest planes departed from the runway.

Donald Trump has addressed the nation following the tragedy in DC last night.

The president started his speech with a moment of silence.

He bowed his head and held his silence for nearly half a minute in respect of those who lost their lives in the aircraft crash.

A young woman who sent her husband a haunting final text shortly before dying in the Washington DC plane crash has been identified.

Asra Hussain messaged husband Hamaad Raza, 25, to say 'We are landing in 20 minutes' as American Eagle Flight 5342 approached Reagan National Airport jut before 8pm ET Wednesday night.

Tragically it was the last text Asra, 26, would ever send.

Her shaken husband of two years Hamza Raza, 25, was filmed explaining how he'd texted a few replies but that they'd never been received.

First Lady Melania Trump sent her condolences to the victims of the plane crash in Washington DC.

She wrote: 'My heart goes out to those impacted by last night’s terrible tragedy. I pray for those who so sadly lost their lives, their families & loved ones, & the first responders who have worked tirelessly through the night. May they find strength and solace in this difficult time.'

Her husband, President Trump, is expected to address the nation in a matter of minutes.

Before Wednesday's disater, American airlines had not suffered a fatal crash in almost 16 years despite 100 million planes taking off with 10 billion passengers.

Flying is so safe, you are 100 times more likely to die in a car, three times more likely on the subway, and about the same chance as being struck by lightning.

The last deadly crash was on February 12, 2009, when Colgan Air Flight 3407 crashed near Buffalo due to pilot error, killing all 54 people on board.

American Airlines Flight 5342 going down after colliding with a military helicopter, killing 64 on the plane and three in the chopper, is the worst US air disaster since American Airlines Flight 587 killed 265 people on November 12, 2001.

That disaster was just two months after 911.

Air travel wasn't so safe. A series of deadly crashes in the mid-1990s had the fatal crash rate of one for every 2 million departures.

But a massive overhaul of airline processes and safety standards slashed accidents and near misses - until Wednesday.

Flights have officially resumed at DCA this morning.

Two Southwest jets took off in rapid succession, after the horror crash last night.

Nikki Schwab, Daily Mail's Chief Political Campaign Correspondent, is at the airport and shared an image of the first plane taking off, just after 11am ET.

Air Traffic Control radar footage showed the fateful moment the two aircraft crossed paths.

The American Airlines flight, labeled JIA5342, and the Army Black Hawk helicopter, labeled PAT25, appeared to be facing each other head-on leading up to the crash.

The helicopter's path remained relatively straight while the American Airlines flight veered to make its landing, and the two collided.

Former president Joe Biden has expressed his sorrow at the tragic plane crash.

Biden, who relinquished power to Donald Trump earlier this month, said that he and his wife Jill are 'praying for the families of the victims.'

American figure skater Jon Maravilla was scheduled to fly to DC on American Airlines Flight 5342 after a developmental camp in Wichita, Kansas, but was denied boarding.

Maravilla took his dog to the event with him, but when he got to the airport he was told the pet was too big and couldn't come on board.

The skater was furious at the time, but it turned out to be a stroke of luck as both their lives were saved.

'Not allowed past gate to board flight, Get me [the f**k] out of Kansas, please,' he wrote on an Instagram story from the airpoirt.

He instead got in a car and drove home, writing '14 hour journey begins' in another story.

Maravilla told a Russian Telegram channel that there were 14 figure skaters on board the plane, plus coaches, staff, and families.

Fox News anchor Sean Hannity read a congressman's 'off the record' text live on air, revealing details about the vast scope of the tragic American Airlines plane and US Army helicopter crash Wednesday night.

While the search for passengers continues, an unidentified Congressman has reportedly told Hannity in a series of 'off the record' texts that nearly all travelers are dead.

'I'll keep it off the record but a well-known Congressman just wrote me and said off the record.

'This Congressman is telling me and confirming what Kevin Cork said that this Congressman is being told that there are 60 plus dead.'

Hannity did not clarify whether the number included all travelers aboard the jet and helicopter or just flyers on the plane.

Wichita, Kansas, airport director Jesse Romo said American Airlines Flight 5342 departed 'as normal'.

The doomed plane flew out of the city at 5.22pm CST on Wednesday and crashed as it tried to land in Washington DC.

'To our knowledge, everything occurred as normal. So, there was no abnormality to the operation,' he said.

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach expressed condolences after numerous elite figure skaters, young developing athletes, their families, and coaches were killed on board.

'We are deeply saddened by the tragic air accident in Washington DC,' he said.

'On behalf of the IOC, and personally, I extend our heartfelt sympathies to all those affected, which we understand may include Olympians, young athletes, and their support staff.

'Our thoughts are with all the victims, their families and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.'

Victims included members of the US figure skating team who were returning from the US Figure Skating Championships.

Russian former world champions Yevgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were also on board.

Wichita Mayor Lily Wu cried as she spoke of the plane crash on Thursday morning.

American Airlines Flight 5342 flew out of the city in Kansas on Wednesday night and crashed as it tried to land in Washington DC.

'We mourn with all those who have been impacted. This is a terrible tragedy that will unite those in Washington, DC, and Wichita, Kansas, forever,' she said.

'At this time, our community needs to come together to support the family members who have been impacted.

'To come together in honor of those individuals on that flight and as a council, we will lead in bringing this community together to pray for our community, but also move our community to know that there are resources and as a city, we will have additional resources, especially for staff who have been impacted.'

President Donald Trump is scheduled to speak from the White House briefing room at 11am, flanked by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and other cabinet members.

He earlier wrote online that he was briefed on the situation and offered condolences.

Former president Barack Obama has spoken out following the tragedy in DC.

In a joint statement with Michelle, the Obamas said that their 'hearts break' for the victims of the plane and helicopter crash.

The crew on the doomed Black Hawk helicopter that collided with a commercial passenger jet was 'fairly experienced', the Army said on Thursday.

The Pentagon has begun notifying the next of kin of the three soldiers who were on a training flight when they hit the American Airlines plane on its final approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

This is the first fatal U.S. commercial airline crash since 2009 and is believed to have killed up to 67 people - sparking questions over whether it could have been prevented.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in a recorded statement obtained by the network that the flight was an annual proficiency training mission.

Every year, pilots and crew are required to do night evaluations.

President Donald Trump posted a statement about the disaster on his Truth Social platform.

'I have been fully briefed on the terrible accident which just took place at Reagan National Airport. May God Bless their souls,' he wrote.

'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.'

Joining the blame game were local senators who revived their complaints about congestion at Reagan National.

The airport in the center of the DC area is much smaller than Dulles International Airport, which is almost 30 miles out of the city.

Politicians like Virginia senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine pushed back against a proposal to add more long-distance flights to the airport last year.

But they stopped short of blaming the disaster on congestion on Thursday.

'We have raised this issue continuously. We’ve got very busy airspace, Warner said.

'I think we will ask questions, but at the appropriate time. We are in this period right now where families are being notified. We’re trying to figure out what happened.'

Senator Chris Van Hollen and former senator Ben Cardin, fought against adding more flights last year - but were outvoted.

Anton Spiridonov was listed on Russian news sites and social media as being among those in the doomed plane, but he is very much alive.

'Russian news outlets have included me on a list of presumed people on the flight from Wichita to Washington DC,' he wrote on Instagram in both Russian and English.

'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.'

American Airlines chief executive Robert Isom said the pilots of Flight 5342 were experienced.

'I know that the captain had… almost six years with PSA [Airlines], and the first officer almost two years,' he said.

PSA Airlines is a regional subsidiary of AA that flies small planes on lesser-used routes.

Transport Secretary Sean Duffy said just because the military helicoper was on a training mission, didn't mean the pilots were learning to fly.

'We call these missions that are flown in the DC area as our pilots are getting hours and experience training missions,' he said.

'So don’t read into that how many hours the pilots on the military aircraft had.'

American Airlines chief executive Robert Isom appeared to blame the US Army Black Hawk pilot for being in the wrong place.

'At this time, we don’t know why the military aircraft came into the path of the PSA aircraft,' he said.

Transport Secretary Sean Duffy agreed with President Donald Trump that the crash was preventable.

'It was, I would say, standard communication, so there was not a breakdown, if that's your question, in communication between the military helicopter and the American airline flight. There was communication between the aircraft and the tower,' he said.

'I would say that the helicopter was aware that the plane was in the area.

'We are going to wait for all the information to come in from this vantage point, but… what I’ve seen so far, do I think this was preventable? Absolutely.'

Duffy said both the military helicopter and the airliner were flying a 'standard fight pattern' like hundreds of flights before.

'This was a clear night last night; the helicopter was in the standard pattern. If you live in the DC area, you will see helicopters up and down the river,' he said.

'The American Airline flight coming in to land was in a standard flight pattern as it was coming into DCA, so this was not unusual with a military aircraft flying the river and aircraft landing at DCA.'

A member of the US figure skating team shared a photo from inside a doomed American Airlines plane shortly before it crashed in Washington DC.

Spencer Lane, 26, uploaded the photo around 7pm ET Wednesday, which appeared to show the jet taxiing on the runway at Wichita Airport in Kansas before it took off for its final flight.

He captioned it ICT -> DCA - the codes for Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

Other elite members of the American figure skating team who were expected at the next winter Olympics were also onboard the plane.

With no survivors expected to be found in the Potomac River, officials are now calling the search a recovery operation.

Washington DC fire and emergency medical services chief John Donnelly said the bodies of 27 plane passengers and one from the helicoper had been pulled from the water so far, though other sources said 30 bodies were found.

'I’m confident that we will [be able to find the rest of the bodies], and that will take us a little bit of time, though. It may involve some more equipment,' Donnelly said

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told the media that fuselage from the doomed American Airlines plane was found in the Potomac river in three different areas following the mid-air collision with a US Army helicopter.

He said the wreckage is in 'about waist-deep water' with recovery work taking place today.

As that recovery takes place of the fuselage of the aircraft, NTSB is going to start to analyze that aircraft, partner with the FAA with all the information we have to get the best results possible for the American people

American Airlines chief Robert Isom told the press conference it is not yet known why the plane collided with a military helicopter.

He said:

This is devastating. Our focus right now is to do everything we can to support everyone involved.

Mr Isom reiterated the flight descended 'in normal approach' to Reagan National Airport.

He again confirms that there were 64 people travelling on board the flight - four crew members and 60 passengers and adds the airport is due to reopen at 11am ET (4pm UK time).

US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told the press conference both the American Airlines jet and the military helicopter were taking a “standard flight pattern” at the time of the collision.

This was a clear night last night; the helicopter was in the standard pattern. If you live in the DC area, you will see helicopters up and down the river. This was a standard fight pattern last night as well.

The American Airline flight coming in to land was in a standard flight pattern as it was coming into DCA, so this was not unusual with a military aircraft flying the river and aircraft landing at DCA

Washington DC's fire and emergency medical services chief John Donnelly has told a press conference that no-one is believed to have survived the mid-air crash.

He told a press conference 27 bodies have so far been recovered from the plane and one from the helicopter.

At this point we don't believe there are any survivors. We are now at a point where we are switching from a rescue operation to a recovery operation.

The former Russian world champion figure skaters on board the doomed American Airlines plane that crashed into a Black Hawk helicopter over Washington told their son they are 'proud' of him before the tragedy.

Married couple Evgenia Shishkova, 53, and Vadim Naumov, 56, were travelling back to DC on Flight 5342 after attending the US Figure Skating Championships in Kansas.

Their son, Maxim Naumov, 23, a prominent Team USA skater, did not fly with them. A teammate claimed he left Wichita on Monday.

According to a report in Moscow, Evgenia and Vadim told Maxim that were 'proud' of him after he took fourth place in the competition a couple of days prior to the crash.

Read more here:

The horrifying moment an American Airlines plane and a military helicopter crashed above the Potomac river has been captured in dashcam footage.

Video shows a car being driven near Reagan National Airport caught the dramatic mid-air collision on camera before the wreckage dropped into the river.

See the moment below:

Speaking in St Petersburg, Ludmila Velikova, who trained Yevgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov (pictured above) when they were children and who was pivotal to their success, told Reuters a group of 14 skaters and trainers had been on board the plane.

She said she was devastated by the loss of Shishkova and Naumov, but relieved that their son Maxim, who had competed in Kansas, had not been on the same plane.

They were my favourite sports people. They were part of my first attempt at the world championships and became champions in 1994. They were talented and beautiful people

Apart from anything else they were my children. Zhenya (Shishkova) trained with me from the age of 11 and Vladik (Naumov) from age 14. They were like my own children. What's happened is awful. The best people have been taken away from us.

Inna Volyanskaya, a former skater who competed for the pre-1991 Soviet Union, was also reported to have been on board the plane, TASS said. She was a coach at the Washington figure skating club, according to its website.

We are expecting to hear from Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser in the next hour as she provides an update on the search and rescue operation into the plane crash near Reagan National Airport.

Stick with us as we bring you the latest updates from the US capital

NBC Washington is reporting a 'recovery centre' has been set up in the city which could act as a 'temporary morgue' for victims from the American Airlines plane crash.

The centre is being set up at the DC Fire helipad on South Capitol Street.

Wild conspiracy theorists are pushing unsubstantiated claims that the deadly crash that saw a Army Black Hawk helicopter collide with a passenger jet was deliberate.

The Army and Defense Department has launched an investigation into the crash as many question how a plane with modern collision-avoidance technology and nearby traffic controllers could collide with a military aircraft over the nation's capital.

Conspiracy theorists have rushed to social media to place uncorroborated blame on the US government, suggesting the collision must have been intentional because 'military helicopters don't fly into planes'.

Some allege the helicopter appeared to 'chase' the Bombadier plane as it approached for landing, comparing the scene to a '1970s-style assassination'. Others have demanded to 'know who was on that passenger plane', suggesting that the incident was a 'targeted hit'.

Read more here:

According to NBC News, more than 30 bodies have been recovered from the Potomac river.

Officials are yet to confirm the number of fatalities.

Here are the latest pictures we can show you from Washington DC as the search and rescue operation continues in the Potomac river.

It has been reported that multiple bodies have been pulled from the water but authorities are yet to confirm the number of fatalities or if there are survivors.

Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser has said a briefing will take place at 7:30am ET (12:30pm UK time).

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has become the latest world leader to express his condolences to victims of the Washington DC plane crash.

He said he was 'shocked' by the tragedy in the US capital and added his thoughts were with the families of those on board.

Earlier, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday voiced support for the United States and praised rescue teams.

Chilling air traffic control audio has emerged from the moments before and after an American Airlines plane crashed into a military helicopter.

In the aftermath of the tragedy, Air Traffic Control (ATC) audio emerged from around the time of the incident.

In the nearly minute-and-a-half recording, ATC operators can be heard asking the helicopter if the commercial flight is in sight.

Through muffled audio, more commands and confirmations are made between ATC operators.

• Listen to the audio below and read the full story here

Travellers at Reagan National Airport have told how there was a 'lot of sadness' in the terminal as news of the mid-air plane crash filtered through.

Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz was waiting to catch his flight back to Buffalo, New York, when he saw through the terminal window some emergency vehicles moving out below.

'It didn't seem anything too strange at that point,' Poloncarz said.

And then about a minute or so after that, there was an announcement of a full-ground stop, that there would be no flights landing and no flights taking off. And then we started to see a lot of emergency vehicles heading towards the river.

Poloncarz and others soon saw reports on social media of a plane crash, while rumors began to swirl.

When flights get delayed, people get aggravated and upset. But there was no one getting aggravated or upset because I think we all realized pretty quickly the magnitude of what occurred. The terminal grew pretty quiet. There was a lot of sadness.

The airport has been closed until 11am ET (4pm UK time) while rescuers scramble to find any crash survivors in the river.

The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will lead the investigation into the mid-air crash over Washington DC's Potomac river.

Investigators will surely examine how and why the collision took place.

As of now, it is unclear how a passenger plane with modern collision-avoidance technology and nearby traffic controllers could collide with a military aircraft over the nation's capital.

The airspace around Washington is often crowded, with planes coming in low over the city to land at Reagan Airport and helicopters - military, civilian and carrying senior politicians or officials - buzzing about both day and night.

The same airport was the scene of a deadly crash in January 1982 when Air Florida Flight 90, a Boeing 737, took off but quickly plummeted, hitting the 14th Street bridge and crashing through the ice into the Potomac River. Seventy-eight people died.

Investigators concluded the pilot had failed to activate sufficient de-icing procedures.

The last major fatal US air accident was in 2009, when Continental Flight 3407 from New Jersey to Buffalo, New York crashed and killed all 49 people aboard.

The mid-air crash between an American Airlines passenger plane and a military helicopter took place near Reagan National Airport shortly before 9pm ET last night.

The plane, carrying 64 people, was approaching the airport after flying from Wichita, Kansas, and was close to landing before the crash happened.

Military officials confirmed the Army helicopter was on a training flight at the time of the collision.

Former airline pilot and aviation safety expert Robert Sumwalt told CBS the plane's pilots may not have seen the helicopter as they were too focused on lining up the runway. He said:

They're focused on the runway. I was an airline pilot for 24 years. I've landed on that runway many times. You're in the turn. You're not looking out here for other traffic at that point.

Donald Trump has questioned why the helicopter didn't turn to avoid the plane.

Here's our graphic showing how the disaster unfolded:

Watch our live stream from Washington DC as rescuers scour the Potomac river where a passenger jet and a military jet have crashed after they collided near Reagan National Airport.

The Kremlin on Thursday expressed its condolences to the families of Russian citizens who lost their lives in the American Airlines plane crash in Washington on Wednesday night.

Russian ice skating coaches and former world champions Yevgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov (pictured) were on board the plane that crashed into the Potomac River after a midair collision near Reagan Washington National Airport.

'We unfortunately see that these sad reports are being confirmed. Our other fellow citizens were there,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, expressing his condolences to the families and friends of the Russians on board.

When asked whether Russian President Vladimir Putin planned to offer condolences to U.S. President Donald Trump in a phone call, Peskov said there were no plans for high-level contacts for now.

Donald Trump believes the crash between an American Airlines regional passenger jet and a military helicopter 'should have been prevented.'

The president initially delivered a statement hoping that God would bless the souls of the victims as emergency services search the Potomac River near the airport for survivors following the incident.

In a post to the Trump-owned Truth Social later in the evening, Trump raised several questions about the crash, which took place at 8.48pm on Wednesday.

'The airplane was on a perfect and routine line of approach to the airport. The helicopter was going straight at the airplane for an extended period of time. It is a CLEAR NIGHT, the lights on the plane were blazing, why didn’t the helicopter go up or down, or turn,' he asked.

Read more here:

Here is a list of significant US plane crashes in recent years, after a passenger plane with 64 people aboard collided with a military helicopter carrying four and crashed into Washington DC's Potomac River last night:

• February 12, 2009: A Colgan Air Bombardier aircraft flying from New York to the small town of Buffalo crashes, killing the 49 passengers onboard.
• August 27, 2006: a regional transport plane uses a wrong, unlit runway, rather than the designated one and crashes shortly after taking off from Lexington airport, Kentucky, killing around 50 people onboard.
• December 19, 2005: a Grumman G-73T Mallard hydroplane operated by Ocean Airways, connecting Miami and an island in the Bahamas, crashes into the sea shortly after takeoff, killing both crew members and 18 passengers.
• October 19, 2004: a BAe Jetstream 32 operated by AmericanConnection crashes near Kirksville, Missouri due to poor visibility. Both pilots and 11 out of the 13 passengers are killed.
• January 8, 2003: a US Airways Beechcraft 1900, flying between Charlotte, North Carolina and Greenville, South Carolina, crashes into a hangar shortly after takeoff. Both pilots and the 19 passengers onboard are killed.
• November 12, 2001: two months after the September 11 attacks, an American Airlines Airbus A-300, flying from New York to Saint-Domingue, crashes shortly after taking off from JFK airport. The 251 passengers and nine crew members are killed. On the ground, several houses are destroyed or damaged, and five residents killed.
• January 13, 1982: an Air Florida Boeing 737-222 hits a bridge over the Potomac before crashing into the river just after takeoff during a snowstorm. The crash kills 78 people including four motorists who were on the bridge.

The bodies of 19 people have been recovered, according to news outlet CBS, with boats and divers scouring three debris fields.

Among the dead are several members of the US figure skating community, including athletes, coaches and their family members, the sport's governing body has said.

They had been returning home from the National Development Camp, an advanced training camp for promising young athletes which is held in conjunction with the US Figure Skating Championships, US Figure Skating said..

'We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims' families closely in our hearts. We will continue to monitor the situation and will release more information as it becomes available,' it added in a statement.

As many as 15 people on the flight may have been involved in figure skating, according to reports.

• Read the full story here

First responders have already said they are potentially the worst disaster in Washington DC for decades after a passenger plane collided with a military helicopter and crashed into the Potomac.

The crash is reminiscent of a previous tragedy in the Potomac when 78 people were killed in 1982 when an Air Florida flight departing Washington bound for Fort Lauderdale struck a bridge and crashed into the icy river shortly after take-off.

There were 70 passengers and four crew on board, all of whom died, along with four people in vehicles on the bridge.

An investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board at the time determined the accident was caused by multiple failures.

They included the crew’s failure to remove excessive ice and snow on the wings and engine of the plane during ground operation.

A man whose wife was on the doomed American Airlines Flight 5342 has revealed his heartbreaking final texts to her before the crash.

Hamaad Raza revealed his 26-year-old wife was on board the tragic flight from Wichita, Kansas to Washington when it collided with a military helicopter just before 9pm on Wednesday night.

Emergency services in the city are searching the Potomac River near the airport following the incident.

'I'm just praying that somebody's pulling her out of the river right now, as we speak. That's all I can pray for, I'm just praying to God,' Raza told WUSA9.

Read more here:

Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser has said a briefing will take place at 7:30am ET (12:30pm UK time) as rescuers continue to search the Potomac river.

The briefing will be streamed live on her X account.

Temperatures in Washington have dropped below freezing as conditions worsen in the Potomac where the search and rescue operation is taking place.

EarlierWashington Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly said there were 'pieces of ice' in the river as rescuers battle the elements in the desperate hope of finding survivors.

The current temperature at Ronald Reagan airport was around 6C (43F) around 3am ET (8am UK time) but that is expected to drop to around 3C (37F) by 6am (11am UK time).

However, the temperature is understood to have reported to have dipped to below freezing in suburbs of the capital.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has confirmed the US Army and the Department of Defense have lauched an immediate investigation into the crash involving a military helicopter.

See his statement below:

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday voiced support for the United States and praised rescue teams after the 'shocking' collision of a US passenger jet with a helicopter in Washington.

'Our condolences to the victims' families and loved ones. Our words of support go out to President Trump and the American people during this tragic time,' Zelensky said in a post on social media.

Divers have reportedly recovered one of two black boxes from the American Airlines plane as well as luggage from the cabin.

CBS is reporting the plane broke into multiple pieces and is now up to 8ft deep in the Potomac while the helicopter is upside down but mostly intact.

Here is some footage of the terrifying mid-air crash between a passenger plane and a military helicopter in Washington DC last night.

Around 300 emergency rescuers are now scouring the Potomac to assess the wreckage in what is potentially the worst disaster in the US captial for decades.

Warning - video below may contain upsetting scenes

US Figure Skating, the governing body for the sport in America, has confirmed its athletes and coaches were on board the doomed American Airlines flight 5342.

In a statement, the group said:

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

We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts. We will continue to monitor the situation and will release more information as it becomes available.

These are just some of the pictures we can bring you of emergency response teams assessing wreckage in the Potomac.

It is not yet known if there are any survivors after a passenger plane and helicopter collided near Reagan National Airport.

First responders near Reagan National Airport have apparently indicated the ongoing search and rescue operation is quickly moving to a recovery effort as bodies are pulled from the water.

We are yet to receive official confirmation on how many people have been killed but law enforcement sources have said there are a number of fatalities.

CBS have reported that the bodies of 18 people have been recovered. The picture above shows tents have been put in place near the airport.

Speaking from the scene CNN journalist Gabe Cohen said:

I spoke with a law enforcement source just a few minutes ago. He told me that there’s a really somber mood, even at the rescue scene. It feels — certainly not officially — but that we’re sort of moving from that ‘search-and-rescue operation’ into a recovery effort. They have pulled several bodies out. There are fatalities confirmed at the scene. And now we’re just waiting for answers.

While officials wouldn’t give us any information on the recovery, potential survivors, or the fatality count, you could tell it was not good and that, barring a miracle, they were looking at potentially the worst disaster here in Washington in decades.

Air traffic control audio recorded the final moments before and after the crash of an American Airlines regional passenger jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter after a midair collision in Washington on Wednesday night.

Audio from LiveATC.net, a respected source for in-flight recording, captured the final communications between the three crew members of the helicopter - call sign PAT25 - before it collided with the CRJ700 Bombardier jet carrying 64 passengers and crew.

'PAT25, do you have a CRJ in sight? PAT25, pass behind the CRJ,' an air traffic controller said at 8.47pm (ET) on Wednesday (1:47am on Thursday).

Seconds later, another aircraft called in to air traffic control, saying, 'Tower, did you see that?' - apparently referring to the crash. An air traffic controller then redirected planes heading to runway 33 at Reagan Washington National Airport to go around.

The explosion in midair occurred over the frigid Potomac River near the airport.

'Crash, crash, crash, this is an alert three,' one of the air traffic controllers can be heard saying in the audio from around the time of the crash.

'I don't know if you caught earlier what happened, but there was a collision on the approach into 33. We're going to be shutting down operations for the indefinite future,' another controller remarked.

'Both the helicopter and the plane crashed in the river,' a third air traffic controller can be heard saying.

'It was probably out in the middle of the river," the controller said. "I just saw a fireball and then it was just gone. I haven't seen anything since they hit the river. But it was a CRJ and a helicopter that hit.'

Russian figure skaters were aboard the American Airlines plane that crashed near Reagan Washington National Airport, Russia's TASS news agency has reported.

According to the state-run news agency, coaches Yevgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were also among the passengers.

Shishkova and Naumov, who were married, won the world championship in pairs figure skating in 1994.

Their son Maxim, who competed for the United States in singles, was also feared to have been on board the plane.

Read more here:

If you're just joining us, we have been reporting live updates from Washington DC where a major search and rescue effort was launched last night following a mid-air crash between a military helicopter and an American Airlines passenger jet.

Here's what you need to know:

• An American Airlines passenger jet carrying 64 people crashed into Washington's Potomac River after colliding midair with a military helicopter on a nighttime training exercise
• The plane was approaching Reagan National Airport at around 9pm (2am GMT) after flying from Wichita, Kansas, when the collision happened
• A US Army official said the helicopter involved was a Black Hawk model carrying three soldiers - their status is currently unknown
• Police have yet to confirm any casualties as a massive search and rescue operation is launched in the Potomac to locate the wreckage of both aircraft
• Witnesses have claimed multiple bodies have been pulled from the water
• President Donald Trump has said he is being fully briefed of the tragedy and appeared to criticise air traffic control as he questioned why the helicopter didn't 'go up or down, or turn'
• American Airlines' chief executive issued a video statement in which he expressed 'deep sorrow,' while US Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas called the collision 'nothing short of a nightmare'

An American Airlines regional passenger jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter crashed into the frigid Potomac River after a midair collision near Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday night, officials said.

Here's what we know about both aircrafts:

• UH-60 Black Hawk Helicopter

The Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk (pictured) is one of the most ubiquitous and iconic military helicopters, filling multiple roles for the U.S. military, including air assault, general support, medevac, command and control, and special operations support.

The aircraft involved in the Jan. 29 crash was flying with the call sign PAT25 and had three occupants, according to the Aviation Safety Network, a public database of aviation accidents.

More than 5,000 Black Hawks have been built since production began in the mid-1970s.

• Bombardier CRJ700

The Bombardier CRJ700, which can seat about 70 people, is a workhorse of regional commercial aviation. There are about 260 of the aircraft in service, according to Cirium, an aviation data company.

The plane in the Jan. 29 crash was registered N530EA and manufactured in 2010, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. There were 60 passengers and four crew members onboard, American Airlines said. The jet was registered to American Airlines but operated by its wholly owned subsidiary, PSA Airlines.

Bombardier sold the CRJ700 program to a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries subsidiary in 2019. Production of new aircraft ceased in 2020.

Sen. Jerry Moran, a Republican from Kansas, said the plane that crashed was flying a route from Wichita to Washington that began about a year ago.

“I know that flight,” he said. “I’ve flown it several times myself.”

Moran said he expected that many people in Wichita would know people who were on the flight.

“This is a very personal circumstance,” he said.

Reagan National Airport will remain closed until at least 11am ET Thursday, president and CEO of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Jack Potter said.

Initially, officials expected the airport to stay closed until 5am, but the rescue operation is still well underway.

In addition to the water being dark and murky, officials have now revealed there are still 'pieces of ice' in the frigid waters.

“The challenges are access. The water that we’re operating in is about 8 feet deep,” Washington Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly said.

“There is wind, there is pieces of ice out there. So it’s just dangerous and hard to work in.”

“And because there’s not a lot of lights, you’re out there searching every square inch of space to see if you can find anybody,” he said.

“Divers are doing the same thing in the water. The water is dark, it is murky, and that is a very tough condition for them to dive in,” he said.

Muriel Bowser revealed in the press conference that officials are not prepared to share a current death toll, or reveal if there are any survivors, tonight.

They hope to provide more information in the morning, but have assured the public and loved ones that rescue efforts will continue through the night, despite the rough conditions.

Sen. Roger Marshall, of Kansas, offered an insight into the scale of the tragedy with his comments.

He said: “When one person dies it’s a tragedy, but when many, many, many people die it’s an unbearable sorrow.”

Loved ones of passengers on board the doomed flight had already arrived at the airport to pick them up, officials said.

Those loved ones are now receiving assistance amid public call outs for others to come forward.

The initial call that the crash had occurred took place at 8.48pm.

Authorities arrived at 8.58pm and immediately set to work trying to search for survivors.

District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Chief John Donnelly told the public the conditions are 'extremely rough' on first responders.

"It's a highly complex operation, the conditions out there are extremely rough for the responders. It's cold. They're dealing with relatively windy conditions," Donnelly said.

Mayor Muriel Bowser revealed in the early hours of Thursday morning rescue crews are 'working diligently in cold and dangerous water.'

'I'm told American Airlines leaderships is on the way to Washington. Officials are in the airport talking to families now.'

Taking to Truth Social on Wednesday night, President Trump said: 'The airplane was on a perfect and routine line of approach to the airport.

'The helicopter was going straight at the airplane for an extended period of time. It is a CLEAR NIGHT, the lights on the plane were blazing, why didn’t the helicopter go up or down, or turn.

'Why didn’t the control tower tell the helicopter what to do instead of asking if they saw the plane. This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented. NOT GOOD!!!

'What a terrible night this has been. God bless you all!'

CityCruise yachts are now in the Potomac River and appear to be assisting with the search efforts.

Family and friends of passengers in Wichiave ta hinvited to wait for additional information with an incident support team at Wichita Airport, the Kansas city airport posted on X.

“We are waiting for details about the crash in DC and will provide updates as information becomes available,” the post read.

'This is a difficult day for all of us at American Airlines,' Robert Isom said.

'I know there are many questions and at this early stage I will not be able to answer all of them.

'We are actively working with local, state and federal authorities... We're cooperating fully. We want to learn everything we can about today's events.'

CBS reports that 18 bodies have been pulled from the wreckage so far.

It is understood the site has three main 'debris fields' in the water.

According to the publication, there have not been any survivors found at this stage.

High-beam lights have been set up along the western bank of the Potomac River in an effort to help find survivors.

Multiple boats and first responders from across the nation are gathered in the area.

“I’m deeply saddened to learn about the horrific tragedy at Reagan National Airport,” he wrote on X.

“Please join me in praying for everyone involved as well as our first responders.”

The last fatal crash involving a U.S. commercial airline occurred in 2009 in New York, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.

Everyone aboard the Bombardier DHC-8 propeller plane was killed, including 45 passengers, 2 pilots and 2 flight attendants. Another person on the ground also died, bringing the total death toll to 50.

An investigation determined that the captain accidentally caused the plane to stall as it approached the airport in Buffalo.

Officials have now confirmed the Army helicopter was on a training flight at the time of the collision.

“We can confirm that the aircraft involved in tonight’s incident was an Army UH-60 helicopter from Bravo Company, 12th Aviation Battalion, out of Davison Army Airfield, Fort Belvoir during a training flight," the official said.

The airport has been closed until at least 5am, officials say.

According to CNN, fatalities have been confirmed as rescue crews wade through the icy cold waters.

It is understood that no survivors have been pulled from the water so far, but the operation is still a rescue mission.

Hamaad Raza reveals his wife was on board the tragic flight and was texting him as they were landing.

'I'm just praying that someone is pulling her out of the river right now as we speak.

'That's all I can pray for. I’m just praying to God,' he said.

Raza revealed his wife text him while on board and told him the plane was 'landing in 20 minutes.'

He responded to the message, and realized 'something might be up' when he noticed it went undelivered.

Hopes are beginning to fade for survivors as rescue crews scour the Potomac River, where the water temperature is just 37 degrees Fahrenheit.

NBC Chief Meteorologist Doug Kammerer said that at the time of the incident the water temperature in the river was around 37 degrees Fahrenheit.

Earlier on Wednesday it dropped as low as 36 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

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

The National Weather Service reported that wind gusts of up to 25 mph were possible in the area throughout the evening.

American Airlines said: 'If you believe you may have loved ones on board Flight 5342, call American Airlines toll-free at 800-679-8215.

'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.'

Secretary Kristi Noem has revealed: 'Every available US Coast Guard resource for search and rescue efforts in this horrific incident at DCA.

'We are actively monitoring the situation & stand ready to support local responders. Praying for the victims and first responders.'

According to local reports, the plane has been split in two and is now in a body of water about seven feet deep.

NBC reports: 'Split in two and is in about 7 feet of water...[T]he helicopter is upside down and is not stable, and it is bobbing up and down.

'Sometimes it's underwater, sometimes it's above, and divers have not been able to make entry into the helicopter yet because of the lack of stability there.'

Edward Kelly, General President of the International Association of Fire Fighters, said: 'Dozens of other firefighters engaged in dive operations. They’re doing everything they can to bring survivors to safety.'

Washington DC resident Abadi Ismail told CNN he heard 'two unusual bangs, something I’ve never heard of.'

The 38-year-old said it “kind of sounded like a warzone.”

He rushed to his window but by the time he got there there was 'nothing but a little bit of smoke.'

Now, he said helicopters and boats have 'lit up the area.'

In audio from the air traffic control tower around the time of the crash, a controller is heard asking the helicopter, 'PAT25 do you have the CRJ in sight,' in reference to the passenger aircraft.

'Tower, did you see that?' another pilot is heard calling seconds after the apparent collision. The tower immediately began diverting other aircraft from Reagan.

“I have been fully briefed on the terrible accident which just took place at Reagan National Airport. May God Bless their souls. 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.”

Officials say three soldiers were on board the Black Hawk helicopter at the time of the crash.

None of those on board were senior officials.

According to NBC, four people have been pulled from the water so far.

They have reportedly been taken to North Boathouse Fire Station at Reagan National Airport for further assessment as first responders continue to scour the river.

American Airlines have confirmed there are 60 passengers and four crew on board the plane.

'A PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet collided in midair with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter while on approach to Runway 33 at Reagan Washington National Airport around 9 p.m. local time.

'PSA was operating as Flight 5342 for American Airlines. It departed from Wichita, Kansas.The FAA and NTSB will investigate.

'The NTSB will lead the investigation.We will provide updates as information comes in.'

American Airlines have released a statement confirming they are aware a PSA plane was involved in the crash.

“We’re aware of reports that American Eagle flight 5342, operated by PSA, with service from Wichita, Kansas (ICT) to Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA) has been involved in an incident. We will provide information as it becomes available,” American Airlines said in a statement.

A US Army official has confirmed that the passenger plane collided with an Army Blackhawk in the crash near Reagan airport.

'Tonight, we received devastating news of what can only be described as nothing short of a nightmare. 

'A plane, traveling to the Nation's capital from Wichita, KS carrying roughly 60 passengers collided with a Military helicopter.

My prayer is that God wraps his arms around each and every victim and that he continues to be with their families. 

'There are no words that can make telling this story any easier. I ask the world to join me in praying for Kansas this evening, the first responders, rescue crews, and all those involved in this horrific accident.

'I have been in contact with local and national authorities asking for answers and will continue to demand more information on how this unfolded.'

In a statement to CNN, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told CNN President Trump has been made aware of the crash, he is continuing to monitor it from the White House.

She said the Trump administration sends its thoughts and prayers to anyone involved.

'Tragically, it appears that a military helicopter collided with a military jet.'

Vice President JD Vance was among the first to comment on the unfolding tragedy.

He wrote on X: 'Please say a prayer for everyone involved in the mid-air collision near Reagan airport this evening.

'We're monitoring the situation, but for now let's hope for the best.'

In a statement, DC Police said: 'At 8:53pm, multiple calls were received for an aircraft crash above the Potomac River.

'DC Fire and EMS, the Metropolitan Police Department and multiple partner agencies are currently coordinating a search and rescue operation in the Potomac River. There is no confirmed information on casualties at this time.

The airport said in a post to X: 'All takeoffs and landings have been halted at DCA. Emergency personnel are responding to an aircraft incident on the airfield. The terminal remains open. Will update.'

An aircraft has crashed while attempting to land at Reagan National Airport in Washington DC.

Emergency services in Washington DC said that a small aircraft had crashed in the Potomac River near the airport.

Fireboats are currently on the scene scouring the river, with details of the crash including the cause and how many people were onboard still unknown.