An American Airlines jet carrying 60 passengers and four crew members crashed into a U.S. Army helicopter while descending toward Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C.
The collision, which happened in the evening of on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, led to an extensive emergency response as rescue teams searched the Potomac River for survivors. As of the latest reports, 28 bodies have been recovered, all of them deceased.
All flights in and out of the airport have been suspended until at least 11 a.m. ET on Thursday. Divers are searching the river, and helicopters from various law enforcement agencies are conducting aerial scans. The cause of the collision has not yet been determined, and investigations are ongoing.
This incident is one of several recent aviation accidents that have sparked concerns about the safety of air travel in the U.S. While events like these lead to questions about global aviation security, research suggests that flying remains statistically safe, with the risk of dying in a plane crash has declined by 7 percent each year, according to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
This data provides important context for broader conversations. Newsweek reached out to experts, asking them whether they believe U.S. aviation is still considered to be safe.
Rescue boats search the waters of the Potomac River after a plane on approach to Reagan National Airport crashed into the river outside Washington, DC, Jan. 30, 2025. A regional jet from Kansas crashed into… Rescue boats search the waters of the Potomac River after a plane on approach to Reagan National Airport crashed into the river outside Washington, DC, Jan. 30, 2025. A regional jet from Kansas crashed into Washington’s Potomac River after colliding midair with a military helicopter near Reagan National Airport, officials said Jan. 29, prompting a major emergency response and grounding all flights (L). DC Mayor Muriel Bowser looks on during a media briefing at Reagan National Airport after a plane crashed into the Potomac River outside Washington, DC, Jan. 30, 2025. A regional jet from Kansas crashed into Washington’s Potomac River after colliding midair with a military helicopter near Reagan National Airport, officials said Jan. 29, prompting a major emergency response and grounding all flights (R). More ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP/TING SHEN/AFP via Getty Images
Dr. Najmedin Meshkati: The Greatest Threat to Aviation Safety in the U.S. Lies on Airport Runways
Drawing on nearly four decades of experience teaching and researching aviation safety at USC’s world-renowned USC Aviation Safety and Security Program, I’ve reached a sobering conclusion: The greatest threat to aviation safety in the U.S. lies not in the skies, but on our airport runways.
The collision near Reagan National Airport brings urgency to these concerns, as, according to BBC Breaking News, the crash occurred
Reagan Airport Plane Crash: Experts Warn ‘We’re Ignoring the Real Threat’
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