icon bookmark-bicon bookmarkicon cameraicon checkicon chevron downicon chevron lefticon chevron righticon chevron upicon closeicon v-compressicon downloadicon editicon v-expandicon fbicon fileicon filtericon flag ruicon full chevron downicon full chevron lefticon full chevron righticon full chevron upicon gpicon insicon mailicon moveicon-musicicon mutedicon nomutedicon okicon v-pauseicon v-playicon searchicon shareicon sign inicon sign upicon stepbackicon stepforicon swipe downicon tagicon tagsicon tgicon trashicon twicon vkicon yticon wticon fm
30 Jan, 2025 03:51

Passenger jet collides with US Army Black Hawk: As it happened

There are no survivors in the collision, US President Donald Trump confirmed
Passenger jet collides with US Army Black Hawk: As it happened

A civilian airliner carrying 60 passengers and four crew members collided midair with a US Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River in Washington, DC, on Wednesday night. There are no survivors.

Among the passengers were several athletes, coaches and family members returning from the US Figure Skating Championships in Wichita. The list of victims includes Russian world champions Yevgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov.

The H-60 BlackHawk helicopter collided with Flight 5342 that was on its final approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday evening.

The US Army Sikorsky H-60 Black Hawk was carrying a crew of three and no VIPs, according to defense department officials. 

This live stream has ended.

  • 30 January 2025

    16:58 GMT

    The US has “already been in contact with Russia” about the repatriation of the remains of Russian nationals killed in the Washington plane crash, President Donald Trump said at the White House press briefing. He confirmed that the US will facilitate the transfer of the bodies notwithstanding the sanctions blocking direct flights to Russia.

  • 16:39 GMT

    US President Donald Trump has described the deadly collision as “a tragedy of terrible proportions” and confirmed that there were no survivors, while addressing reporters in the White House briefing room.

    He praised the emergency response efforts, stating, “A massive search and rescue mission was underway throughout the night, leveraging every asset at our disposal, and I have to say, the local, state, federal military, including the United States Coast Guard in particular, they’ve done a phenomenal job.” Trump called the incident “a dark and excruciating night in our nation’s capital and in our nation’s history,” emphasizing that “as one nation, we grieve for every precious soul that has been taken from us so suddenly.”

    While details surrounding the crash remain unclear, Trump hinted at potential causes. “We do not know what led to this crash, but we have some very strong opinions and ideas, and I think we’ll probably state those opinions now, because over the years, I’ve watched as things like this happen,” he said.

    RT

  • 16:12 GMT

    First lady Melania Trump posted on X that her “heart goes out” to those affected by the mid-air collision. “I pray for those who so sadly lost their lives, their families & loved ones, & the first responders who have worked tirelessly through the night. May they find strength and solace in this difficult time,” she added.

  • 16:11 GMT

    Four members of the steamfitters union were among the victims of the fatal collision between a Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines jet, the professional organization announced Thursday.

    “We are heartbroken to confirm that four members of UA Steamfitters Local 602 were among the victims of the American Airlines Flight 5342 crash yesterday,” the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry of the United States and Canada shared on X.

  • 15:55 GMT

    Wednesday’s plane crash brought back memories of a similar tragic event involving US figure skaters nearly 64 years ago.

    On February 15, 1961, the entire national team perished in a plane crash in Belgium while en route to that year’s World Championships in Prague, in what was then Czechoslovakia. Among the 72 passengers killed were 18 skaters, along with 16 coaches, officials, judges, and family members. The disaster remains one of the most devastating moments in American sports history.

    “Those were all my friends and coaches,” 1960 Olympic bronze medalist Ron Ludington recalled in a 2010 interview with the Wilmington News Journal. “I grew up with them, and I traveled all over the world with them.” Ludington had originally been scheduled to be on the flight as a coach but was forced to cancel at the last minute.

    RT

  • 15:45 GMT

    RT
    RT
    RT

  • 15:40 GMT

    US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth confirmed on Thursday that the Black Hawk helicopter involved in the midair collision was on an annual proficiency training flight. While the Pentagon is withholding the names and ranks of the crew members until their families are notified, Hegseth stated, “It was a fairly experienced crew that was doing an annual required night evaluation,” adding that “they did have night vision goggles.” 

    The 12th Aviation Battalion, the unit operating the Black Hawk, is now on an operational pause as officials review the circumstances surrounding the incident. “An investigation will seek to determine whether the helicopter was in the proper corridor and at the right altitude at the time of the incident,” Hegseth noted. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz told Fox earlier on Thursday that the crew consisted of one officer, a warrant officer, and a crew chief.

  • 15:40 GMT

    “On behalf of the IOC [International Olympic Committee ], and personally, I extend our heartfelt sympathies to all those affected, which we understand may include Olympians, young athletes, and their support staff,” IOC President Thomas Bach said in a statement.

  • 15:04 GMT

    “I have been fully briefed on the terrible accident which just took place at Reagan National Airport. May God Bless their souls,” Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social. “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.”

  • 14:56 GMT

    As many as 14 figure skaters are feared dead, Skating Club of Boston CEO Doug Zeghibe has told reporters in Norwood, Massachusetts. He confirmed that six of the victims were affiliated with the Skating Club of Boston, including two coaches, two skaters, and two mothers.

    Zeghibe identified the skaters as 16-year-olds Spencer Lane and Jinna Han. Their mothers, Christine Lane and Jin Han, were also on the plane. The two coaches on board were Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova.

    “The two coaches, Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, top coaches. They were the 1994 world pair champions and they came to us in 2017 and were very much a part of our building the competitive skating program,” he told NBC.

Dear readers! Thank you for your vibrant engagement with our content and for sharing your points of view. Please note that we have switched to a new commenting system. To leave comments, you will need to register. We are working on some adjustments so if you have questions or suggestions feel free to send them to feedback@rttv.ru. Please check our commenting policy
Podcasts
0:00
28:2
0:00
25:50