Tragic... Officials Recover All 67 Remains From Fatal DC Mid-Air | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-04.14.25

Airborne-NextGen-04.15.25

AirborneUnlimited-04.16.25

Airborne-AffordableFliers-04.17.25

SunnFun-DayFour-04.03.25

Fri, Feb 07, 2025

Tragic... Officials Recover All 67 Remains From Fatal DC Mid-Air

One Victim Awaiting Positive Identification from Medical Examiners

A team of over 100 officials has spent over a week searching the Potomac River and has managed to recover all 67 victims from the fatal mid-air collision. 66 of the bodies have been positively identified and 10 have been returned to loved ones.

"This marks a significant step in bringing closure to the impacted families and community… While all victims have been identified, salvage operations will continue with a strict commitment to the dignified recovery of any additional remains," stated an official press release from Unified Command.

The accident occurred off the approach end of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) runway 33 on January 29. American Eagle flight 5342, taken on a Bombardier CRJ-701 was en route to DC from Wichita, Kansas (ICT). A US Army Black Hawk helicopter, callsign PAT 25, had been instructed by air traffic controllers to pass behind and maintain visual separation from the airliner.

However, just before 9:00 pm, PAT 25 crashed into the side of AA5342. Both aircraft were sent from around 300 ft above the ground into the Potomac River below. The 64 jet occupants and the 3 soldiers on the Black Hawk were confirmed dead.

The remains of 41 victims had been recovered by January 31. On February 2, this number rose to 55. Crews began to pull wreckage from the river a day later. On February 4, authorities announced that all 67 victims had been recovered and that 66 received positive identification. As of February 5, officials were still waiting on the final victim’s test results.

Ten victim’s remains have been returned to loved ones so far, one being 53-year-old father and American Airlines flight attendant Ian Epstein. The aircraft carrying Epstein’s body was greeted with a traditional water cannon salute at his home airport, Charlotte Douglas International (CLT).

While crash wreckage is still steadily being pulled from the site, authorities have already begun piecing together evidence from the aircraft’s black boxes. NTSB investigators are currently reviewing data from the flight data and cockpit audio recorders to use in the preliminary and final reports.

"Our hearts are with the victims’ families as they navigate this tragic loss," Unified Commands continued. "We extend our deepest condolences and remain committed to supporting them through this difficult time."

FMI: www.centcom.mil

Advertisement

More News

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (04.19.25): Discrete Code

Discrete Code As used in the Air Traffic Control Radar Beacon System (ATCRBS), any one of the 4096 selectable Mode 3/A aircraft transponder codes except those ending in zero zero; >[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (04.19.25)

Aero Linx: The Museum of Flight The Museum of Flight is the largest independent, non-profit air and space museum in the world! With over 175 aircraft and spacecraft, tens of thousa>[...]

Classic Aero-TV: Light, Adaptable, Innovative - Clarity Aloft Intro’s the Flex!

From 2018 (YouTube Edition): Clarity Aloft Introduces The TSO Certified Flex Headset The newest addition to the Clarity Aloft headset range is a big departure from previous designs>[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (04.20.25)

“Despite this development, we strongly encourage WestJet management to work with ALPA pilot representatives to find more practical solutions for attracting and retaining skil>[...]

NTSB Prelim: PPHU Ekolot KR-030 Topaz

Pilot Stated That He Did Not Recall Any Aspects Of The Accident Sequence On April 8, 2025, about 1308 central daylight time, a PPHU Ekolot KR-030 Topaz light sport airplane, N568RD>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC