Washington Plane Crash: 20 Bodies Found Amid Tough Search Efforts

Following a collision between a commercial airplane and an American helicopter over the Potomac, media sources report that survivors have been rescued. Authorities have not yet released an official statement regarding the incident's impacts.
Air Tragedy Over the Potomac
The United States was shaken on Thursday, January 30, 2025, by its worst air disaster in over a decade when a commercial airplane collided with a military helicopter above the Potomac River near Washington, as reported by numerous U.S. media outlets.
Victims of the Catastrophe
Reports state that the airplane was carrying 64 individuals, including well-known American and Russian figure skaters. Among them were the Russian figure skating duo Evgenia Chichkova and Vadim Naumov, 1994 world champions turned coaches. “We are devastated by this unimaginable tragedy and keep the victims’ families close to our hearts,” stated the governing body of American figure skating.
Rescue Operations
An extensive search and rescue operation is underway, involving nearly 300 police officers, firefighters, and coast guards. However, the rescuers face extremely challenging conditions due to icy cold, strong winds, and ice on the Potomac.
Circumstances of the Accident
The U.S. aviation regulator (FAA) confirmed that the Bombardier aircraft, operated by PSA and owned by American Airlines, “collided at mid-altitude” with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter. The airplane was en route from Wichita, Kansas, and was scheduled to land at Ronald Reagan Airport in Washington, D.C.
U.S. President Donald Trump commented on the tragedy on his Truth Social platform, stating that the accident “could have been avoided” had the helicopter not been in the “perfect approach path” of the airplane.
No official casualty report has been released yet. An investigation is ongoing to determine the precise circumstances of this tragic incident.