A midair collision on January 29 between an American Airlines regional flight and a U.S. Army helicopter at Ronald Reagan National Airport has resulted in multiple fatalities, with the recovery process currently underway. Emergency responders have pulled numerous bodies from the icy waters of the Potomac River, compelling officials to transition from rescue efforts to a recovery operation as hopes of finding survivors dim.

According to reports, the American Airlines jet, operated by PSA Airlines, was carrying 64 people—60 passengers and four crew members. It was on approach to the airport after having departed from Wichita, Kansas. The collision occurred around 9 p.m. ET when the aircraft collided with a military helicopter, identified as a UH-60 Blackhawk on a training flight.

In a press conference early Thursday, D.C. Fire Chief John Donnelly reported that 28 bodies had been recovered from the river and that additional searches were ongoing. Rescuers are focusing their efforts between Ronald Reagan National Airport and the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, roughly 3 miles south of the airport. “We don’t believe there are any survivors,” Donnelly stated somberly.

Witness accounts and video footage capture the harrowing moment before the collision, showing two lights in the sky converging into a fireball. Less than a minute before impact, an air traffic controller asked the helicopter if it had the approaching jet in sight, which was met with radio silence.

American Airlines CEO Robert Isom expressed deep sorrow over the incident, stating, "At this time, we don’t know why the military aircraft came into the path of the aircraft." The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has instituted a comprehensive investigation to uncover the specifics of the crash, with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) leading the inquiry.

In addition to the tragic fatalities on the aircraft, reports indicated that among those on board were a group of figure skaters, returning from a development camp after the U.S. Figure Skating Championships. Two of those coaches were identified by Russian state media as Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, who have coached teams in the sport.

In the wake of the collision, all flights at Reagan National Airport were grounded and are expected to resume operations at 11 a.m. on Thursday, impacting the travel plans of numerous passengers across the region.

President Donald Trump was reportedly briefed on the situation. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who was confirmed just prior to the crash, planned to allocate all available resources to aid in the investigation and ensure public safety. Time reported that this incident marks one of the deadliest commercial aviation disasters in the U.S. in nearly 24 years, reminding the public of previous tragedies, including the Air Florida crash that claimed 78 lives in 1982.

As investigations continue, officials are calling for thoughts and prayers for the families affected by this heartbreaking event. The community is urged to support those involved as recovery efforts unfold.