An American Eagle plane takes off from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport while search and rescue teams continue operations nearby. This follows the collision of American Eagle Flight 5342 and a Black Hawk helicopter, which crashed into the Potomac River in Arlington, Virginia, on January 31, 2025. REUTERS
U.S. authorities have imposed new restrictions on helicopter flights near Reagan Washington National Airport following a tragic midair collision that killed 67 people. The crash, involving an American Airlines passenger jet and a military Black Hawk helicopter, is the deadliest air disaster in the U.S. in two decades.
On Friday, investigators recovered the helicopter’s black box, which stores crucial flight data and cockpit conversations. Along with the flight recorders from the CRJ700 jet, this information will help authorities understand what happened just before the aircraft collided and fell into the icy Potomac River. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has also interviewed air traffic controllers, including the lone controller on duty at Reagan’s tower at the time of the accident.
The exact cause of the crash remains unclear, and officials have urged patience as the investigation continues. “Our job is to find the facts and prevent this from happening again,” NTSB member Todd Inman stated.
Meanwhile, a separate aviation accident occurred in Philadelphia on Friday when a medevac plane crashed near a shopping mall with six people on board, including a child. Authorities have not yet confirmed if there are any survivors.
In response to the Washington crash, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has placed strict limits on helicopter flights near Reagan Airport. Only police, medical, presidential, and air defense helicopters are permitted in the restricted zone. The new rules will stay in effect until the NTSB releases its preliminary findings in about 30 days, after which officials will reassess the restrictions.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the decision aims to prevent further accidents. “This move will immediately improve safety in the airspace around Reagan Airport,” he stated.
Rescue crews have retrieved 41 bodies from the crash site so far, and efforts to recover more victims and debris from the river will begin in full force on Sunday. Authorities believe this operation could take a week. Washington D.C. Fire Chief John Donnelly confirmed that 28 victims have been positively identified.
The doomed American Airlines flight was attempting to land when it collided with the military helicopter. All 60 passengers and four crew members on the jet were killed, as well as three service members aboard the helicopter. Two of them were identified on Friday.
The crash has sparked renewed concerns about air safety, particularly the shortage of air traffic controllers at one of the busiest airports in the U.S. The FAA currently has about 3,000 fewer controllers than needed, and only one controller was overseeing air traffic at Reagan during the accident—an arrangement described as “not normal” but still legally acceptable during low-traffic hours.
Washington’s airspace is especially complex, with three major commercial airports, several military bases, and frequent helicopter flights for government officials. According to reports, the military helicopter was flying at 300 feet, despite regulations capping its altitude at 200 feet. Former President Donald Trump commented on social media that the helicopter had been flying "too high by a lot."
Investigators also found that air traffic controllers had warned the helicopter of the approaching jet and instructed it to change course. The pilot of the American Eagle Flight 5342, operated by PSA Airlines, had six years of experience.
Two of Reagan Airport’s three runways will remain closed for at least a week. However, the main runway, which handles about 90% of flights, remains open.
The victims of the crash included passengers from Russia, China, Germany, and the Philippines. Among those lost were young figure skaters who had been returning from an elite training camp in Kansas.
