The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced that all major wreckage from the fatal collision between a PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700, operated by American Airlines and a U.S. Army Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter has been recovered.
According to the most recent NTSB update, all major pieces of both aircraft have been recovered and taken to “a secure airport facility for further examination and documentation.”
“Investigators will be looking for witness marks on the aircraft that could provide clues to the angle of collision,” the statement released on February 8, 2025, reads.
Investigators have also recovered the CRJ’s Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) and retrieved additional avionics from the Black Hawk, which will be essential in determining the events leading to the crash.
A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration aircraft, equipped with advanced sensors and imaging technology like lidar (Light Detection and Ranging), conducted a survey that identified several underwater areas potentially containing additional aircraft debris. Divers have already investigated these areas and will continue their work throughout the week, according to the NTSB.
The tragic incident occurred at 8:47 p.m. ET on January 29, 2025, when a Bombardier CRJ700, registered N709PS, operating as American Eagle Flight 5342, collided midair with a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk, registered 00-26860.
The CRJ700 was en route from Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT) to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and was on final approach to runway 33 when the collision happened. Following the collision, both aircraft crashed into the Potomac River near the airport.
The CRJ700 was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, while three soldiers were aboard the Black Hawk. It has been confirmed that all individuals aboard both aircraft lost their lives in the crash.
The NTSB will release a preliminary report within 30 days of the accident, containing factual information gathered in the initial investigation. The final report, which will include the probable cause and any contributing factors, is expected within 12 to 24 months.
