WASHINGTON: American Flight 5342, a CRJ-700 jet carrying 60 passengers and four crew members from Wichita, Kansas, struck a Sikorsky H-60 Black Hawk helicopter carrying three military personnel while approaching Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport just before 9 p.m. local time. The impact sent both aircraft plunging into the icy waters of the Potomac River, leaving behind a fiery wreckage.

Rescue teams braved harsh winter conditions overnight in a desperate search for survivors, but by morning, the operation had shifted to recovery. “At this point, we don’t believe that there are any survivors from this accident,” Fire and Emergency Medical Services Chief John Donnelly stated.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) confirmed late Thursday that investigators have recovered the cockpit voice and flight data recorders—commonly known as “black boxes”—from the CRJ-700. These critical pieces of evidence are now being analyzed at NTSB laboratories to determine the cause of the crash.

Shocking footage of the collision circulated widely on social media, showing the two aircraft colliding mid-air before erupting into flames and plummeting into the river. The jet’s fuselage was discovered in three sections, complicating salvage efforts.

The NTSB, along with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), has launched a full-scale investigation. A preliminary report is expected within 30 days, though a final analysis could take up to two years. Officials have declined to speculate on potential causes at this stage.

Among the victims were members of the U.S. figure-skating community returning from the national championships in Wichita. U.S. Figure Skating confirmed their presence onboard, while Russian media reported that a champion Russian skating couple was also among the passengers.

In response to the tragedy, Reagan National Airport temporarily halted all takeoffs and landings but resumed normal operations on Thursday.