"67 Killed in Nation's Worst Air Disaster Since 2001 After Helicopter-Plane Collision"

A tragic midair collision between an Army helicopter and an American Airlines flight originating from Kansas has resulted in the deaths of all 67 individuals aboard the two aircraft, authorities confirmed on Thursday. This marks the deadliest aviation accident in the U.S. since 2001. Officials are now focusing on the actions of the military pilot as part of their investigation into the cause of the crash.

Recovery efforts have already pulled at least 28 bodies from the frigid Potomac River, including the three soldiers on the helicopter, and search operations are still ongoing.

Here are the key details:

The cause of the collision remains uncertain: The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) stated that it's too early to speculate, but promised to release a preliminary report within 30 days. Authorities noted that flight conditions were clear, and the American Airlines jet from Wichita, Kansas, was conducting a routine landing when the helicopter unexpectedly flew into its path.

Air traffic control's role: Less than 30 seconds before impact, air traffic control tried to reach the helicopter, asking if it had the airplane in sight. It seems there was no communication from air traffic control with the commercial jet.

Victims’ identities are emerging: Among the passengers on the flight were a group of figure skaters, their coaches, and family members returning from a training camp following the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita.

Trump’s controversial statement: President Donald Trump attributed the crash to federal diversity and inclusion policies, but failed to provide any evidence to support this claim. He later acknowledged the absence of such evidence and signed an executive order to halt what he termed "woke policies" in federal aviation.

**Other notable deadly commercial airline crashes in the U.S.:**

Fatal crashes of commercial planes in the United States are now rare occurrences. The most recent major crash took place in 2009 near Buffalo, New York, when a Bombardier DHC-8 propeller plane crashed into a house, killing all 45 passengers, the four crew members, and one person on the ground.

The collision on Wednesday involved a Bombardier CRJ-701 twin-engine plane and a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter, which fell into the Potomac River. This disaster echoes the 1982 crash of an Air Florida flight into the Potomac, which killed 78 people.