The deadly midair collision involving an airplane and a military helicopter on Wednesday night appears to have been caught on camera.
Footage shows a bright, fiery explosion as the two objects collide.
First responders were “switching from a rescue operation to a recovery operation,” D.C. Fire and EMS Department Chief John Donnelly said during a press conference on Thursday morning, noting that they do not believe there are any crash survivors.
He indicated 27 bodies had been recovered from the airplane, and one from the helicopter.
“A PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet collided in midair with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter while on approach to Runway 33 at Reagan Washington National Airport around 9 p.m. local time,” the Federal Aviation Administration noted on Wednesday night. “PSA was operating as Flight 5342 for American Airlines. It departed from Wichita, Kansas. The FAA and NTSB will investigate. The NTSB will lead the investigation.”
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The chopper had been engaged in a “training mission” at the time of the collision, Ron McLendon II, Deputy Director, JTF-NCR/USAMDW Public Affairs noted.
“While performing a training mission a United States Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter from Bravo Company, 12th Aviation Battalion, Davison Army Airfield, Fort Belvoir, Va., collided in midair with an American Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet Flight 5342 last night at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport,” McLendon noted. “The FAA, NTSB and the United States Army will investigate. The NTSB will lead the investigation. We are working with local officials and will provide any additional information once it becomes available.”
A senior U.S. Defense official said one set of remains from the soldiers on board the Black Hawk have been recovered from the crash scene.
The co-pilot, or pilot in command, was a female, the official told Fox News, and she had 500 hours of flying experience.
The Black Hawk crew chief, identified as Ryan O’Hara, was flying the Black Hawk and also being evaluated at the time. O’Hara had 1,000 hours of flight time.
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On Thursday evening, the NTSB said it had recovered critical evidence that could piece together the final moments before Wednesday’s deadly midair collision.
In a statement to Fox News, the agency said the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder from American Airlines flight 5342 had been located and retrieved by NTSB investigators.
“The recorders are at the NTSB labs for evaluation,” and NTSB spokesperson said.
U.S. Figure Skating has indicated that members of its community were on the airplane involved in the crash.
“U.S. Figure Skating can confirm that several members of our skating community were sadly aboard American Airlines Flight 5342, which collided with a helicopter yesterday evening in Washington, D.C. These athletes, coaches, and family members were returning home from the National Development Camp held in conjunction with the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas,” U.S. Figure Skating noted.
“We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts. We will continue to monitor the situation and will release more information as it becomes available,” the statement added.
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Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., noted that he had landed at the DCA airport on a flight from Houston’s IAH airport shortly before the collision occurred.
“I landed at DCA this evening at 8:42pm, IAH—DCA, minutes before an in-flight collision over the airport. My thoughts are with all involved and their families. Hoping first responders find survivors,” the congressman noted on Wednesday night.
President Donald Trump sounded off about the crash on Truth Social.
“The airplane was on a perfect and routine line of approach to the airport. The helicopter was going straight at the airplane for an extended period of time. It is a CLEAR NIGHT, the lights on the plane were blazing, why didn’t the helicopter go up or down, or turn. Why didn’t the control tower tell the helicopter what to do instead of asking if they saw the plane. This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented. NOT GOOD!!!” Trump declared in a post shared shortly after midnight.
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“What a terrible night this has been. God bless you all!” he added in another post.
Just one night before the devastating crash, a jet that tried to land at the same airport had to circle around and make another approach after a helicopter approached its flight path, according to reports.
The Washington Post reported that an audio recording from air traffic control captured the encounter, and ultimately, Republic Airways Flight 4514 landed safely, flight tracking software shows.
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The Embraer E-175 was cleared to land at the airport’s Runway 19 and advised about a helicopter in its vicinity. It executed a go-around maneuver after its automated collision avoidance system ordered what’s known as a ‘resolution advisory’ to avoid nearby traffic.
That put the aircraft out of proper alignment for landing, but was able to land safely several minutes later, The Associated Press reported.
The military helicopter was advised of the plane, which was flying roughly 1,000 feet above the helicopter, according to flight tracking sites cited by the AP.
Fox News’ Louis Casiano, Jennifer Griffin, Melissa Summers and James Levison, as well as The Associated Press, contributed to this report.
