Jet Abort Landing at Reagan National Day Before Fatal Crash

The Washington Post reported that a Republic Airways passenger plane was forced to abandon its first landing attempt at Reagan National Airport on Tuesday after a helicopter crossed its flight path. This occurred 24 hours before a plane crash between an American Airlines aircraft and an Army Black Hawk helicopter.

The Post cited a recording of air traffic control.

The Post reported that on Tuesday night, Republic Airways Flight 4514, from Windsor Locks in Connecticut, safely landed at the airport during its second approach.

Officials said that all 67 passengers aboard the American Airlines regional jet and Black Hawk were presumed to be dead. At least 28 bodies were recovered from the Potomac River’s icy waters after a helicopter flew in the direction of an American Airlines regional plane late on Wednesday. The Post reported that crews continued to recover remains all day Thursday.

The passenger aircraft, which flew in from Wichita Kansas, carried 60 people and four crew members.

Three servicemen were aboard the Black Hawk, which was in training.

The Army saw 15 flight and two ground Class A incidents in fiscal year 2024, according to safety data obtained by The Associated Press through the Freedom of Information Act and a January 2025 Army aviation safety report.

Any aviation accident that destroys an aircraft, the death of servicemen, or damages to the airframe of more than $2 million is classified as a Class A incident.