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All 67 people aboard a commercial jet and an Army helicopter were killed when the aircraft collided near Ronald Reagan National Airport shortly before 9 p.m. on Jan. 29 and plunged into the Potomac River.
The jet carried 64 passengers, while three soldiers were aboard the helicopter. At exactly 9 p.m., an Alexandria Police Department dispatcher declared a “mass casualty incident,” prompting the deployment of Alexandria fireboats and ambulances.
Washington Fire Chief John Donnelly said the following morning that officials did not believe anyone had survived. Heavy winds, ice on the water and extremely cold conditions complicated the response.
Police scanner audio indicated that divers found multiple victims still secured in their seats. By Feb. 2, officials had identified 55 victims. Donnelly said crews expected to recover everyone after extracting the plane. Recovery efforts were completed Tuesday, Feb. 4.
Three Fairfax County Public Schools students and six parents were on the flight, including two school officials. Several were returning from a figure skating camp, according to the school division’s superintendent.
Officials had not determined whether any Alexandria residents were among the victims.
“Our prayers are with everyone affected,” Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins said. “This devastating loss is felt by all of us.”
Controller staffing draws scrutiny
A preliminary Federal Aviation Administration investigation found that staffing in the Reagan National control tower was not typical for the traffic volume and time of day. One controller was handling two positions when the aircraft collided, although a former FAA air traffic manager said combining those duties was common practice.
A September 2023 report to Congress showed that the airport had 19 fully certified controllers, compared with the FAA’s target of 30.
President Donald J. Trump had frozen hiring for several groups of federal employees, including air traffic control personnel, shortly after taking office. During a White House news conference, Trump blamed former presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, along with diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, for the collision.
The airport reopened the day after the crash and returned to full operating capacity, though several airlines canceled scheduled flights.