NPR
WASHINGTON, D.C. – A midair collision between an Army Helicopter and an American
Airlines flight from Kansas killed all 67 abroad, officials said Thursday. Investigators are
examining the military pilots’s actions as they probe the cause of the crash.
At least 28 bodies, including three soldiers, have been recovered from the icy Potomac River.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said it was too soon to determine the cause
but will release a preliminary report within 30 days. Flight conditions were clear when the jet,
arriving from Wichita, Kansas, was making a routine landing and the helicopter entered its path.
An FAA report obtained by AP revealed staffing in the air traffic control tower was “not normal”
at the time, though its impact remains unclear.
Among the victims were figure skaters, their coaches, and families returning from a development
camp following the U.S. Figure Skating Championships.
The crash comes amid concerns over military aviation safety. The Army reported 15 Class A
aviation incidents in fiscal year 2024, involving aircraft destruction, service member deaths, or at
least $2.5 million in damage. In response, the Army implemented a safety stand-down to reassess
flight procedures, said Army Aviation Chief of Staff Jonathan Koziol.
Recovery efforts continue as investigators work to determine what led to the tragedy.