A tragic aviation accident occurred late Wednesday night when an American Airlines passenger jet collided with a U.S. Army helicopter over the Potomac River near Washington, D.C. The aircraft was approaching Ronald Reagan National Airport at the time of the incident.
U.S. Figure Skating confirmed that several of its athletes, coaches, and family members were on board American Airlines Flight 5342. They were returning from Wichita, Kansas, after attending the U.S. Figure Skating Championships and a National Development Camp. In an official statement, U.S. Figure Skating expressed deep sorrow, calling the event an “unspeakable tragedy” and extending condolences to the families of those affected. The organization also assured that it would continue to monitor developments and share further details when available.
The passenger jet had 60 passengers and four crew members on board when it collided with the Army helicopter, which was carrying three soldiers. The helicopter was on a training flight at the time. Federal and local authorities held a press briefing early Thursday morning but did not confirm any fatalities.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser emphasized that the immediate priority was rescue operations, with all available personnel focused on locating and assisting survivors. Further updates from investigative agencies are expected as officials work to determine the cause of the collision.
