(Washington, DC) – Federal investigators are working to determine the cause of a devastating midair collision between an Army Black Hawk helicopter and American Airlines Flight near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The crash, which occurred Wednesday night, resulted in the loss of all 67 people on board, marking the deadliest U.S. aviation disaster in nearly 24 years.
President Trump addressed the nation from the White House briefing room on Thursday, expressing sorrow and pledging a full investigation. “I speak to you this morning in an hour of anguish for our nation,” he said, adding that recovery crews have done a “phenomenal job.” He confirmed that the operation had shifted to a recovery mission, stating, “Sadly, there are no survivors.”
The Army helicopter was carrying three soldiers, all of whom have been recovered. The remains will be taken to Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations at Dover Air Force Base. The American Airlines passenger jet, which had departed from Kansas, was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members when it collided with the Black Hawk, erupting into a fireball upon impact.
President Trump assured Americans that the administration would work swiftly to understand the cause of the crash. “We do not know what led to this crash, but we have some very strong opinions and ideas,” he said. “We’ll find out how this disaster occurred and we’ll ensure that nothing like this ever happens again.”
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation, with assistance from the Federal Aviation Administration and military officials. Investigators have yet to determine what led to the collision, and recovery crews are working through debris to retrieve key evidence, including the aircrafts’ black boxes.
Officials say more information will be released as the investigation continues.