Tragic Midair Collision Claims 67 Lives Near Washington

Recovery efforts continue after a catastrophic midair collision near Washington, D.C., claiming the lives of 67 individuals, including figure skaters from the U.S. and Russia, raising significant concerns about air traffic control protocols.

Recovery teams have begun searching the icy waters of the Potomac River following a devastating midair collision that resulted in the loss of 67 lives near Washington, D.C. An American Airlines jet with 64 passengers collided with a U.S. Army helicopter carrying three personnel on Wednesday evening, leading to both aircraft plummeting into the river.

Authorities report that there were no survivors from this tragic incident, marking it as the most severe air disaster involving a commercial flight in the United States since 2009. Preliminary investigations reveal that just prior to the collision, air traffic controllers requested the pilots of the American Airlines flight to alter their landing approach from one runway to another.

Sources familiar with the handling of the situation disclosed that the air traffic control tower at Ronald Reagan National Airport was operating under “non-normal” circumstances, with a single controller responsible for managing both helicopter instructions and airplane landings—typically a two-person assignment.

Among the passengers were notable figure skaters from the U.S. and Russia, who were returning from a training camp following the national figure skating championships in Kansas. As recovery efforts continue, inquiries into air traffic control procedures and communication protocols are underway to prevent such tragedies in the future.