DCA plane crash: Families remember victims 1 year later

Name: Loved ones remember victims of DCA plane crash one year later
Uploaded: 2026-01-29T23:05:12-05:00
Description: It's been one year since the tragic midair collision between an American Airlines plane and an Army Black Hawk helicopter claimed the lives of 67 people. Family members of the people who died in the crash joined us for a special discussion honoring their loved ones. FOX 5's Katie Barlow led the discussion and joins us now with some of the details.

Loved ones remember victims of DCA plane crash one year later

It's been one year since the tragic midair collision between an American Airlines plane and an Army Black Hawk helicopter claimed the lives of 67 people. Family members of the people who died in the crash joined us for a special discussion honoring their loved ones. FOX 5's Katie Barlow led the discussion and joins us now with some of the details.

WASHINGTON - It's been one year since the tragic midair collision between an American Airlines plane and an Army Black Hawk helicopter claimed the lives of 67 people.

The crash left families shattered and hearts broken. Family, friends and loved ones of the victims have had to reconcile with the tragedy, while

On this first anniversary, family members of the people who died in the crash joined FOX 5's Katie Barlow for a special discussion honoring their loved ones.

RELATED: Families, first responders reflect one year after the DCA plane crash

The backstory:

On Jan. 29, American Airlines Flight 5342 was preparing to touchdown at Ronald Reagan National Airport when air traffic controllers asked pilots if they could land the jet on a shorter runway a few minutes before landing, and they said they were able.

Controllers then cleared the plane to land on Runway 33. Flight-tracking sites showed the plane adjusting its approach to the new runway.

Less than 30 seconds before the crash, an air traffic controller asked the Black Hawk if it had the arriving plane in sight.

RELATED: NTSB Chairwoman reflects on DCA plane crash investigation nearly 1 year later

The controller made another radio call to the helicopter moments later, telling them, "PAT 25, pass behind the CRJ." Seconds after that, the two aircraft collided.

The wreckage tumbled into the icy Potomac River, and all 67 people on board — 60 passengers and four crew members on the American Eagle jetliner, and three people on board the military helicopter — were killed in the crash.

It marked the deadliest U.S. air disaster in almost 25 years.

Just this week, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) held a major hearing on the crash, blaming deep systemic failures by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Army crew and air traffic operations for the crash.

Investigators said the tragedy was preventable, pointing to a helicopter route too close to the airport’s runway, poor communication, malfunctioning equipment and warnings about close calls that went unheeded.