Eighteen Bodies Recovered After Midair Collision Near Washington Airport

A midair collision between an American Airlines regional jet and a military Blackhawk helicopter near Ronald Reagan National Airport resulted in the recovery of 18 bodies from the Potomac River, with search efforts currently ongoing. The incident occurred around 9 p.m. EST when the Bombardier CRJ-701 aircraft, carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, collided with the helicopter during its final approach. Emergency responders launched inflatable rescue boats and deployed multiple agencies to search the river, with reports of at least three debris fields identified. The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed the details of the crash and stated that all flights at the airport were grounded as investigations began. Notably, four individuals were reportedly pulled alive from the water, while fatalities have been confirmed. The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation to determine the cause of the crash, amid concerns over safety in one of the world's most monitored airspaces.