The D.C. region is reeling in the aftermath of a crash involving an American Airlines passenger jet and a military helicopter near Reagan National Airport that officials say left no survivors.
Arriving from Witchita, Kansas, the airplane was making its descent when it collided with the helicopter over the Potomac River around 8:50 p.m. yesterday (Wednesday). The crash drew a massive emergency response that included personnel from Fairfax County’s police and fire departments.
The Fairfax County Police Department deployed its Fairfax One helicopter, Marine Patrol Unit and dive team as part of a mutual aid agreement, according to the department’s media team.
The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department also dispatched 22 units with 68 total personnel, and the Department of Emergency Management and Security (DEMS) provided key support to a regional team established to coordinate the emergency response, Fairfax County Director of Public Affairs Tony Castrilli said in a statement to FFXnow.
“Fairfax County leadership remains in close contact with regional partners and will continue to provide any assistance necessary as recovery efforts continue,” Castrilli said. “As we continue these efforts, we extend our deepest sympathies to the victims, their families and those impacted.”
Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay also pledged that the county will continue providing support as long as necessary.
“I am deeply saddened by the tragedy that happened outside Reagan National Airport last night. My prayers are with those lost and their families,” McKay said in a statement. “Fairfax County has committed resources to assist with the operation and will continue to provide support as long as it is needed. We will also provide all necessary support to our first responders who are part of the response to this tragedy.”
An existing National Capital Area Mutual Aid Agreement that allowed public safety agencies from across the D.C. region to mobilize was critical to ensuring a “seamless, swift response” to last night’s incident, according to Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) Board Chair Rodney Lusk, who represents Franconia District on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.
“Our hearts go out to all the passengers and crew members of the aircrafts that collided near DCA and their families. Area officials are incredibly grateful to our region’s first responders for their service and heroism,” Lusk said in a statement, adding that “COG stands ready to provide additional assistance as needed by our members.”
Statement from COG Board Chair Rodney Lusk: “Our hearts go out to all the passengers and crew members of the aircrafts that collided near DCA and their families. Area officials are incredibly grateful to our region’s first responders for their service and heroism.” More below ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/jDwVs9ZkCT
— COG (@MWCOG) January 30, 2025
The crash halted all flight activities at DCA, which diverted incoming planes to other locations, including Dulles International Airport. A Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority spokesperson didn’t have the exact number of flights sent to Dulles but said the airport was able to manage the additional load.
“Dulles has plenty of capacity to handle that, so there were no impacts to normal [operations],” she told FFXnow. “Nothing has been diverted this morning.”
During the ground stop, Metro extended its Silver Line service from Dulles to Metro Center in downtown D.C. Shuttle buses were also provided to take passengers from Metro Center to National Airport for their parked vehicles.
Flight operations at DCA resumed at 11 a.m. today, and all airport roads and terminals have now reopened, though with some flights getting delayed or cancelled, the airport advised passengers “to check with their airline for specific flight information.”
Figure skaters among American Airlines passengers
The 60 passengers and four crew members on American Airlines Flight 5342 are all believed to have been killed, according to a preliminary Federal Aviation Administration report.
The passengers included 14 figure skaters, coaches and their family members who were returning from a national development camp that U.S. Figure Skating hosted after the 2025 Prevagen Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, the Associated Press reported.
The crash victims included members of the Skating Club of Boston and multiple people from Northern Virginia, including Inna Volanskaya, a coach who worked at Ashburn Ice House in Loudoun County, and members of the Fairfax-based Skating Club of Northern Virginia, according to AP and NBC4.
Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, who represents Loudoun County and parts of Fairfax County as Virginia’s 10th District Congressional representative, confirmed on social media that Volanskaya was among the airplane passengers. He also said in a statement that some of the victims were former Loudoun County Public Schools students.
Local skater Ilia Malinin, a Vienna native who trains at SkateQuest in Reston, said in an Instagram story that he was “heartbroken” by the loss of his fellow skaters. He had secured his third consecutive national title with a gold medal in the men’s singles event at the championships, which were held from Jan. 20-26.
“I’m heartbroken by the tragic loss of my fellow skaters in this devastating accident,” Malinin wrote. “The figure skating community is a family, and this loss is beyond words. My thoughts are with their families, friends, and everyone affected. We will never forget them.”
Some of SkateQuest’s coaches had worked with coaches on the flight in the past or knew them as members of the figure skating community, Anthony Lamirata, the assistant general manager at the Reston ice skating rink, told FFXnow.
Ross Lansel, a SkateQuest coach and Volyanskaya’s ex-husband, told NBC4 that she was one of the best skaters he’d ever seen and that “just knowing the impact she made to all the skaters and everyone just hurts my soul.”
American Airlines said anyone who believes they had loved ones on board Flight 5341 should call its toll-free number at 800-679-8215.
Helicopter was on training mission from Fort Belvoir
Recovery efforts are also underway to locate three soldiers who were on board the helicopter, U.S. Army officials confirmed.
The UH-60 Blackhawk was part of the 12th Aviation Battalion based at Fort Belvoir’s Davison Army Airfield and was carrying out a training mission when it collided in midair with the American Airlines jet, according to a statement released shortly after noon today (Thursday).
“Our deepest condolences go out to all the families and friends impacted during this tragedy, and we will support them through this difficult time,” Maj. Gen. Trevor J. Bredenkamp, commander of the Army’s Joint Task Force-National Capital Region, said. “Our top priority is to assist in the recovery efforts, while fully cooperating with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and other investigative agencies to determine the cause of this tragic incident.”
The NTSB is leading the investigation with assistance from the FAA and U.S. Army.
“While the investigation is ongoing, we are committed to transparency and will share accurate updates as soon as they become available,” Bredenkamp added.
Hat tip to Jamie Rogers
