67 feared dead in midair collision near Washington, DC

A catastrophic midair collision between an American Airlines passenger jet and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter near Washington, DC, has left all 67 onboard feared dead. The incident occurred during the jet’s approach to Ronald Reagan National Airport, about three miles from the White House and Capitol.

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Both aircraft plummeted into the Potomac River following the crash. Search operations have recovered at least 28 bodies so far, but officials have transitioned from rescue to recovery efforts, with no survivors expected. The commercial flight carried 64 people, including figure skaters, their coaches, and families returning from a camp in Wichita, Kansas, while the Army chopper had three personnel on board.

The collision happened shortly after 9 pm IST, with the jet departing Wichita and the helicopter conducting a training exercise. Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are working to determine the cause of the crash.

Images from the scene revealed wreckage of the aircraft fuselage and a partially submerged wing in the river, surrounded by rescue boats. The tragic incident is among the deadliest in US aviation history. President Donald Trump has been briefed on the tragedy and extended condolences to the victims' families as recovery efforts continue.