Per this morning's press conference, DC Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly has told reporters: “We are now at a point where we’re switching from a rescue operation to a recovery operation.
"At this point, we don’t believe there are any survivors from this accident."
Per CNN and NBC News, it has also been reported that twenty-seven bodies had been recovered from the passenger jet, and one had been recovered from the military helicopter.
ORIGINAL:A husband has shared the devastating final message he received from his wife just moments before her plane was involved in a deadly midair collision.
The horrific crash unfolded on Wednesday (January 29) when an American Airlines 5342 collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter as it approached Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
The impact sent both aircraft plummeting into the Potomac River at around 9PM local time, BBC News reported.
The small commercial plane was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, while the US Army Black Hawk helicopter had three soldiers on board.
According to The Independent, all the people on board both aircraft are feared dead, Kansas Senator Roger Marshall said.
Another official disclosed that at least 19 bodies had been recovered from the river, which contained three debris fields, per CBS News.
One of the victims on American Airlines Flight 5342 was Hamaad Raza's wife.
The distraught husband told WUSA that his wife, whose name he did not share, had been traveling back from a work trip in Kansas.
She sent him a final text before tragedy struck, which read: "Landing in 20 minutes." Raza said he tried to respond, but his message never went through. That’s when he felt a sinking feeling that something was wrong.
“I’m praying someone is pulling her from the river as we speak," he told the outlet.
The crash sent shockwaves through Washington, prompting an immediate response from top officials.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance had been briefed on the situation.
In a statement, Trump thanked first responders for their “incredible work” and said he was “monitoring the situation and will provide more details as they arise," adding: “May God Bless their souls."
Vance echoed the sentiment, urging people to keep those involved in their prayers. “Please say a prayer for everyone involved in the mid-air collision near Reagan Airport this evening. We’re monitoring the situation, but for now let’s hope for the best,” he wrote on X.
Emergency services confirmed that fireboats and several agencies, including the Metropolitan Police Department, rushed to the scene.
"It's a highly complex operation, the conditions out there are extremely rough for the responders. It's cold. They're dealing with relatively windy conditions," District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Chief John Donnelly told reporters after the tragedy.
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom addressed the tragedy in a video message, expressing "deep sorrow" and pledging full cooperation in the investigation.
"This is a difficult day for all of us at American Airlines," Isom said. "Our efforts now are focused entirely on the needs of our passengers, crew members, partners, first responders, along with their families and loved ones."
Eyewitnesses Describe the Moment of Impact
Washington resident Jimmy Mazeo, who was in a nearby park, initially mistook the explosion for a meteor.
"We saw these white flares streak across the sky. At first, we thought they were shooting stars," he told WUSA9.
His confusion quickly turned to shock as emergency vehicles swarmed the area.
"We didn’t really think much of it until we saw the fire trucks, police cars, and boats racing toward the river. It was insane," he recalled. "Of course, it’s terrible what happened tonight, but I think it’s crazy we got to see what happened. I’m praying for all the people involved in this."
What Happens Next?
With search and rescue efforts ongoing, authorities have cautioned that the full scale of the tragedy is still being assessed. D.C. Fire and EMS Chief John A. Donnelly described conditions in the river as "extremely rough", with frigid temperatures and turbulent waters complicating recovery efforts.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation, with American Airlines fully cooperating. "We are actively working with local, state, and federal authorities," Isom confirmed. "Our cooperation is without pause, and we want to learn everything we can about today's events."
The airline has set up a helpline (1-800-679-8215) for families of those onboard.
All flights in and out of Ronald Reagan National Airport have been paused until at least 11:00AM Thursday.