A tragic mid-air collision between American Airlines Flight 5342 and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter on January 29 claimed all 71 lives on board, making it one of the deadliest U.S. aviation disasters in decades.
Flight 5342 was en route to Washington, D.C., when it struck the helicopter during a military training exercise, sending both aircraft into the icy Potomac River. Despite challenging conditions, emergency teams have recovered 40 bodies so far.
A preliminary FAA report suggests air traffic controllers may have been handling both military and civilian aircraft simultaneously due to staffing changes. Investigations by the FAA and NTSB are ongoing.
Among the victims were young figure skating stars Angela Yang and Sean Kay, their coach, and other prominent skaters.
President Biden extended condolences and vowed a thorough investigation. Experts are urging stronger airspace safety measures to prevent future tragedies.
