A devastating midair collision between an American Airlines regional jet and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter sent both aircraft tumbling into the icy Potomac River near Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday night, leaving an undetermined number of people presumed dead

Authorities have not confirmed a death toll, but US Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas suggested that everyone aboard the passenger jet may have perished, noting that “it’s really hard when you lose probably over 60 Kansans simultaneously.” Officials emphasized that rescue crews remain in “rescue mode,” although multiple sources reported the recovery of several bodies from the water

American Airlines confirmed that 64 people were on board the jet: 60 passengers and four crew members. According to a senior official, three soldiers were on the Black Hawk for a training flight. The aircraft collided as the jet from Wichita, Kansas approached Reagan, with radio transmissions revealing that the helicopter crew knew the passenger jet was nearby

President Donald Trump appeared to fault the helicopter crew and air traffic controllers, writing in a post on Truth Social that the helicopter had ample time to maneuver clear. Air traffic control recordings indicate a tower operator instructing “PAT25” (the helicopter) to pass behind the CRJ, then an urgent question from another pilot: “Tower, did you see that?”

A webcam at the Kennedy Center captured the fiery impact, followed by a massive explosion over the river. First responders deployed boats and searchlights, working in the dark and cold to locate any survivors. Relatives gathered at Reagan airport expressed frustration at the lack of official information. The airport remains closed until at least 11 a.m. Thursday, as emergency teams coordinate efforts to find those missing and manage the aftermath of one of the deadliest crashes in recent memory.