Who was on the American Airlines plane that crashed in Washington? Everything we know about possible survivors of flight 5342

Rescue operations are ongoing following the collision between a US Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines commercial airplane just before it was due to land in Washington, D.C. Authorities have not reported any survivors so far. The current temperature in the city is around 41°F, but it is much colder over the river.

“This is a very complex operation. Conditions are extremely harsh for the rescuers. It’s cold, and they’re dealing with extreme conditions. The wind is strong over the river,” said John Donnelly, Washington’s Fire and EMS Chief, during a press conference.

What aircraft were involved in the collision in Washington?

American Eagle Flight 5342, a regional subsidiary of American Airlines, was approaching Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport from Wichita, Kansas, when it collided with a military Black Hawk helicopter at 8:48 p.m. local time on Wednesday. The helicopter had three people on board, while 64 (60 passengers, four crew) were on the plane.

The two aircraft involved in the collision were a Bombardier CRJ700 and a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter.

Bombardier, a Canadian manufacturer founded in 1942 in Quebec, initially produced snowmobiles, including the Ski-Doo. The company expanded into the rail industry in 1970 and aviation in 1986. Bombardier also manufactures many of the subway cars used in New York City.

The CRJ series was introduced about 30 years ago, with the CRJ700 being the second smallest model, capable of carrying 78 passengers. The plane is approximately 105 feet long with a wingspan of around 75 feet.

The Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk is manufactured by Lockheed Martin, a U.S. defense contractor. The company claims to have built over 5,000 Black Hawks, which have accumulated more than 15 million flight hours, including 5 million hours in combat. The UH-60 model can carry up to 8,800 pounds of cargo and 12 fully equipped soldiers.

Numerous figure skaters among the passengers

Former Russian figure skaters Yevgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were on board the American Airlines plane that crashed near Reagan National Airport, according to the Russian state news agency TASS. Shishkova and Naumov, who were married, won the pairs figure skating world championship in 1994.

There are also fears their son, Maxim Naumov, who is part of the U.S. Figure Skating team, may have been on board, although that has yet to be confirmed. Additionally, Inna Volianskaya, a bronze medalist in pairs figure skating at the 1980 Soviet Union Championships, is reported to have been among the passengers.

U.S. Figure Skating has confirmed that several members of its skating community were on the American Airlines regional passenger plane.

A man named Hamaad Raza, meanwhile, revealed his wife, who was on board the plane, had texted him to say she would be landing in 20 minutes.

Has anyone survived the crash?

According to Fox News, the plane has been broken in two, while the helicopter is upside down underwater. DC Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly has stated he “doesn’t believe there are any survivors from this accident”. That would mean a death toll of 67.

President Donald Trump described the crash as a “bad situation” and stated that the “terrible” accident “should have been prevented.” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced that the Coast Guard is “deploying all available resources” to respond to the crash near Washington, D.C.

According to Pentagon sources, at least three Army personnel were on board the helicopter. So far, 28 bodies have been recovered from the Potomac River, reported BNO News.

Original article written by Laura Martín Sanjuan, translated with the assistance of AI and edited by Roddy Cons.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.