On Wednesday evening (29 January 2025), a Black Hawk helicopter carrying three soldiers crashed mid-air with a commercial plane carrying 60 passengers and four crew.
Flight 5342, a PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet running for American Airlines and traveling from Wichita, Kan, hit the chopper at around 9pm while heading towards Runway 33 at Washington airport.
Two heartbreaking clips were shared online of the moment the two aircrafts collided and quickly went viral.
CNN, the media outlet that obtained the footage, said that ‘both aircraft can clearly be seen flying towards each other, then exploding and falling into the river after the fatal explosion’.
Now, authorities have revealed that two Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) employees are responsible for leaking the footage. They have reportedly been charged with computer trespass over the incident.
Mohamed Lamine Mbengue and Jonathan Savoy were arrested and charged with computer trespass under Virginia law.
21-year-old Mbengue from Rockville, Maryland, was booked into the Arlington County Adult Detention Center and later released.
On 2 February, police then arrested 45-year-old Savoy on the same charge.
On January 30, DC Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly said: “We are now at a point where we’re switching from a rescue operation to a recovery operation.
“At this point, we don’t believe there are any survivors from this accident.”
Natalya Gudin and her husband Alexandr Kirsanov coached two figure skaters. They had to decide who would accompany the children and they decided that her husband would go while she stayed home.
Alexandr Kirsanov and the two young skaters sadly lost their lives in the crash.
Speaking to ABC News, Gudin said: ‘I lost everything. I lost my husband. I lost my students. I lost my friends.’
Her last conversation with her husband was on Wednesday afternoon while he was about to board the flight. He said ‘It’s time for boarding’ and promised to call her again when they landed.
Heartbreakingly, that call never came.
On Thursday morning, she discovered that her husband and their students had sadly died.
Sadly, 59-year-old Inna Volyanskaya, a former Soviet figure skater and Disney On Ice performer was on the flight also.
She had been a coach at Ashburn Ice House in Virginia, before she passed.
The company shared a statement online “Inna also had a lot of success internationally achieving gold, silver, and bronze medals in various international competitions,”.
In the 1980s, she competed as a pairs skater for the Soviet Union before earning her a leading role in the “Russian All-Stars,” an ice theatre troupe.
She was beloved by many and her former husband, Ross Lansel, paid tribute to her legacy, calling her “one of the best pair girls to skate.”
“Just knowing the impact she made to all the skaters and everyone just hurts my soul,” Lansel told News4. “I wish all those kids that she taught – just my condolences. I wish them the best of life and everything because I know it’s going to be so hard without her.”
Two World Champion figure skaters were also on board the flight, it has been revealed.
Russian figure skaters Yevgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were the first two names to be released from the victims of the crash. They won the world championship in figure skating back in 1994.
US Figure Skating released the following statement: “These athletes, coaches, and family members were returning home from the National Development Camp held in conjunction with the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas. We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts. We will continue to monitor the situation and will release more information as it becomes available.”
It is understood that there were multiple figure skaters on board, as many as 15 according to reports.
Audio, obtained by CBS, has now been revealed from moments before the crash occurred. “The accident happened in the river,” an official said, “Both the helicopter and the plane crashed in the river.”
A controller said moments after witnessing the crash: “It was probably out in the middle of the river. Um, I just saw a fireball and then it was just gone. I haven’t seen anything since they hit the river,” they said. “But It was a CR-J and a helicopter that hit, I would say a half-mile of the approach.”
Another pilot also said: ‘we saw flares from the opposite side of the Potomac’ after seeing the crash, while an approach controller added: “Apparently both aircraft involved are in the river, a search and rescue will be ongoing.”
It was reported that the AA plane split in half and is seven feet underwater in the Potomac River. Rescue teams are currently looking for survivors. At least 18 bodies have reportedly been recovered from the water.
“We can confirm that the aircraft involved in tonight’s incident was an Army UH-60 helicopter from Bravo Company, 12th Aviation Battalion, out of Davison Army Airfield, Fort Belvoir during a training flight,” said an Army spokesperson.
“We are working with local officials and will provide additional information once it becomes available.”
American Airlines shared the following statement: “If you believe you may have loved ones on board Flight 5342, call American Airlines toll-free at 800-679-8215. Those calling from outside the US can visit news.aa.com for additional phone numbers. Family members in Canada, Puerto Rico or the US Virgin Islands can call 800-679-8215 directly,”.
President Trump shared a statement on Wednesday night: “I have been fully briefed on the terrible accident which took place at Reagan National Airport,”
“May God Bless their souls. Thank you for the incredible work being done by our first responders. I am monitoring the situation and will provide more details as they arise.”
64 people were onboard and officials say have all sadly died. 55 bodies at the time of writing, have been recovered.
Heartbreaking, RIP.
