Plane Crash in DC: No Survivors Expected After Midair Collision Between American Eagle Flight 5342 & US Army Black Hawk

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Published at 10:00am ET, January 30th, 2025

Washington, D.C. – On Wednesday, January 29, 2025, A deadly midair collision between an American Airlines passenger jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter occurred. The crash happened Wednesday night just as the plane, American Eagle Flight 5342, was approaching Reagan National Airport for landing. 

How the Crash Happened

The passenger plane was carrying 60 passengers and 4 crew members, and collided with a Black Hawk helicopter carrying 3 soldiers on a training mission. The impact created a fiery explosion and sent both aircraft plummeting into the icy waters of the Potomac River.  

Emergency responders rushed to the scene for search and rescue. By mid-morning Thursday, January 30th, the police chief announced the search and rescue was pivoting to a recovery mission. Tragically, no survivors are expected. As of this writing on Thursday morning, at least 28 bodies have been recovered from the wreckage. Dive teams are continuing to search the river for victims.  

First Responders Speak at Press Conference

“It’s a highly complex operation,” said D.C. Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly. “The conditions out there are extremely rough for the responders. It’s cold. They’re dealing with relatively windy conditions.”

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation into the cause of the crash, with assistance from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the U.S. Army.  

“We will be looking at everything that could have contributed to this tragic accident,” said an NTSB spokesperson. “This includes air traffic control recordings, weather conditions, and the maintenance records of both aircraft.”

The crash has sent shockwaves through the nation, with many expressing their condolences to the families of the victims.

“This is a terrible tragedy,” said President Trump in a statement. “May God bless their souls. Thank you for the incredible work being done by our first responders.”

Reagan National Airport was closed immediately following the crash, causing significant disruption to air travel. The airport is expected to reopen later Thursday morning, but travelers are advised to check with their airlines for updates. 

Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel Personal Injury Lawyers

Our thoughts go out to all the victims of the crash, their friends, families, and communities.

Our skilled and experienced airplane accident lawyers have a track record of success in handling complex cases, including catastrophic disasters, major accidents, and infrastructure accidents. We are dedicated to helping victims and their families seek justice and compensation for their losses.

Contact Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel Personal Injury Lawyers today for a free consultation to discuss your legal rights and options. Our team is here to stand by your side during this difficult time.

This is a developing story. 

Allan Siegel spoke with reporter Scott Taylor about the tragic plane crash.

Scott: “You know this was a horrific accident, obviously families, friends, loved ones are grieving right now. Should families wait until the investigation is wrapped up before talking to a law firm?”

Allan: “Number one, it is a horrific incident and the families really should focus on the grieving process, and focus on taking care of their families and spending time with their families. The, it is necessary to understand what your rights are, and it is important for them when the time is right certainly to speak to a lawyer and find out how they should be proceeding, when they should be proceeding, and what their deadlines are, so that is of course very important, but the laws allow them time to grieve, so it isn’t necessary that they rush and talk to lawyers if they don’t want to. So it is important, and we encourage people to grieve and take care of their family first, but it is important to talk to a lawyer at some point so they do understand a lot of the complexities that are going to be involved in a case like this.”

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Get free advice about the compensation you deserve.

At Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C., our car accident attorneys fight tirelessly to secure the compensation you deserve, handling every aspect of your case to protect your rights. Trust us to stand by you and advocate aggressively on your behalf.

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