All personnel onboard both the American Eagle jet and U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter lost their lives after the aircraft collided midair outside Washington National Airport. The incident took place adjacent to Reagan Washington National Airport before both planes broke through the surface into the Potomac River while search operations began.
Flight 5342 of American Eagle operated from Wichita Kansas with sixty passengers along with four crew members collided with a military helicopter bearing three personnel. Rescue teams have thus far recovered 28 bodies but continue their operations to find and identify every surviving victim.
The civilian aircraft transported American together with Russian athletes and trainers and their accompanying relatives who had participated in a Wichita training program. The organization U.S. Figure Skating confirmed that its members were aboard the aircraft that crashed. 
Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser extended her heartfelt condolences to the mourning families then added “The 700,000 residents of Washington City join me in mourning the families who lost loved ones during this tragic event.”
John A. Donnelly of Fire and EMS confirmed that rescue efforts had officially evolved into a recovery mission since they no longer expect survivors to be found. The recovery mission uses approximately 300 first responders as part of the extensive operation.
Officials from the National Transportation Safety Board lead an investigation to determine the reason behind the aircraft collision. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy declared both planes had followed normal flight paths when this event occurred.
The nation mourns while officials encourage people to wait for investigators to determine the cause of this devastating plane crash.
