Race Against Time: What Made The Potomac Rescue Operation Challenging? – wna24
A harrowing rescue operation unfolded along the ice-choked Potomac River overnight after a mid-air collision between a passenger jet and a U.S. Army helicopter left at least 19 dead and dozens missing, with responders battling freezing temperatures, hazardous debris, and fading hope to save survivors. The crash, which occurred near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday night, involved an American Airlines flight carrying 64 passengers and crew—including elite U.S. and Russian figure skaters—and a military helicopter with three soldiers onboard, igniting questions about airspace safety and emergency preparedness.
As temperatures plunged to near 20°F (-6°C), over 300 first responders in rubber boats scrambled to locate survivors in the dark, navigating a treacherous mix of floating ice, jet fuel slicks, and submerged wreckage. Washington D.C. Fire Chief John Donnelly described the operation as “dangerous and hard,” emphasizing that icy currents and limited visibility hampered divers. “The challenge is access. There’s wind, pieces of ice,” he said, noting that the passenger plane had shattered into multiple sections and sunk several feet into the riverbed, while the helicopter lay capsized nearby.
Eyewitnesses recounted the horror of the collision, with Ari Schulman telling NBC Washington he saw the plane’s belly illuminated by “streams of sparks like a giant Roman candle” before it veered sharply and crashed. Meanwhile, diners at a riverside park reported seeing “irregular flight patterns” and a “white flare” moments before impact, though many initially mistook the disaster for a routine landing.
The flight, operated by PSA Airlines as American Airlines 5342, carried passengers returning from a figure skating development camp in Wichita, Kansas. U.S. Figure Skating confirmed coaches, athletes, and family members were among those onboard, while Russian officials identified former world champions Yevgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov as passengers. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov expressed “profound grief” over the loss of Russian citizens.
The Pentagon confirmed the Sikorsky H-60 helicopter, assigned to Fort Belvoir’s 12th Aviation Battalion, was on a training mission with three soldiers. Their identities remain undisclosed as next of kin are notified.
President Donald Trump called the crash a “terrible accident” in a statement. “This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented. NOT GOOD!!!” he wrote on Truth Social. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy hinted at potential airspace reforms, stating, “We will take appropriate action if necessary,” as the FAA and NTSB launched a joint investigation. Unverified air traffic control audio reviewed by CNN suggested a controller warned the helicopter of the approaching jet moments before impact, but received no response—a detail authorities have yet to confirm.
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom posted a somber video message expressing “deep sorrow,” while Kansas Senator Roger Marshall lamented a “heartbreak beyond measure.”