By The South Asia Times

Washington – In a tragic incident, an American Airlines regional jet collided midair with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, resulting in the deaths of all 67 individuals on board both aircraft.

A Bombardier CRJ700 operated by PSA Airlines, en route from Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport to Reagan National Airport, carrying 60 passengers and four crew members.

A Sikorsky UH-60L from the 12th Aviation Battalion, based at Davison Army Airfield in Fort Belvoir, Virginia, on a training mission with three military personnel aboard.

The collision occurred as Flight 5342 was on its final approach to Reagan National Airport. Eyewitnesses reported a fiery explosion over the Potomac River, after which both aircraft plunged into the water. Rescue teams, including the D.C. Fire and EMS Department, responded swiftly but found no survivors. Recovery operations have retrieved several bodies, with efforts ongoing.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), in collaboration with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the U.S. Army, has launched a comprehensive investigation. The flight data recorders from the CRJ700 have been recovered and are under analysis. Initial reports suggest that both aircraft were operating under standard procedures, and there was no immediate indication of a communication breakdown. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated that the collision was "absolutely preventable," emphasizing the need for a thorough investigation to determine the cause.

The incident has prompted discussions about aviation safety and air traffic control protocols. Some political figures have controversially linked the disaster to diversity policies within federal agencies, though no evidence supports these claims. These statements have sparked significant backlash and calls for a focus on factual findings from the investigation.

Recovery teams continue to work in challenging conditions to retrieve remains and aircraft debris from the icy Potomac River. The NTSB is expected to release preliminary findings in the coming weeks, with a full report anticipated later this year.

This tragedy marks the deadliest U.S. aviation disaster since 2001, underscoring the critical importance of stringent safety measures and thorough investigative processes to prevent future occurrences.