What we know about the tragic midair collision near DCA

As authorities shift from rescue to recovery, new details emerge about the crash. 

Tragedy occurred in the airspace near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), located in Arlington, on Wednesday night. Around 9 p.m. on Jan. 29, American Airlines Flight 5342, en route from Wichita, Kansas, collided with a US Army Blackhawk helicopter from Fort Belvoir in Fairfax County.

A search and rescue mission immediately ensued along the Potomac River amid reports that a total of 64 passengers and crew members were on board the commercial flight, and three were in the helicopter. 

By dawn, dozens of bodies were pulled from the river. At a press conference just hours after the news initially broke, officials changed the rescue mission to a recovery mission, noting that there were not believed to be any survivors from the midair collision.

Emerging reports stated that American figure skaters, coaches, and family members traveling from a figure skating camp were on board the commercial aircraft. Russian media outlets also confirmed that former world champion figure skaters Yevgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were among the passengers.

A statement from US Figure Skating read in part: “We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts.”

Ron McLendon II, the public affairs deputy director for Joint Task Force-National Capital Region/Military District of Washington, told NBC News that the crew on board the Blackhawk was performing a training mission at the time of collision.

At Dogwood, our hearts are with the friends and family members of the DCA crash victims.

If you believe you may have loved ones on board American Airlines Flight 5342, call 800-679-8215 (US, Canada, Puerto Rico, and US Virgin Islands). Call-in information for additional countries is listed here.

Free mental health support is available nationwide. Call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 to connect with a trained specialist.