A CCTV still of rescuers at the Potomac River where the collision fell(Agenda-Free TV)|Public domain

An American Airlines flight carrying 64 people collided midair with a Black Hawk military helicopter with three soldiers on Wednesday near Reagan National Airport.

The crash sent the two aircrafts into Washington DC’s Potomac River, prompting search and rescue operations. The river was just above 35 degrees Wednesday evening. Authorities announced yesterday that all the passengers of the carriers are presumed dead.

The incident is the first major US commercial air disaster since 2009 when a Colgan Air propeller plane crashed into a house in Buffalo, New York.

Details so far
The commercial flight was attempting to land at the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, one of the most congested airspaces in the country. However, the flight was asked to change course just before the landing and move to another runway. A Black Hawk approached the plane while the jet was changing direction. The air traffic controller was too late to warn the aircraft.

As of this report, 28 bodies had been recovered from the river. Investigators have also confirmed the recovery of black boxes of the two aircrafts, which will undergo analysis.

Among the passengers were several young figure skaters and families. They were returning from the US Figure Skating Championships and training camp in Wichita.

The aircraft was also carrying renowned Russian figure skating coaches Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov.

The reason for the crash is yet unknown. However, according to a government report, the air traffic control tower was understaffed at the time of the crash. Two controllers were handling the jobs of four, creating potential communication gaps.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is analyzing staffing and ATC protocols.

Addressing the disaster, President Donald Trump blamed the crash on ATC controllers, his Democratic predecessors, and DEI programs implemented by former transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg.

The crash has lawmakers criticizing Washington’s crowded airspace and the Reagan airport’s capacity. It is designed to handle 15 million passengers annually but handles 25 million.

The US has been facing ATC staff shortages, resulting in flight delays, runway incursions, and increased fatigue among controllers, many of whom often work six-day weeks of mandatory overtime.