Pope Francis expressed his condolences after an American Airlines jet collided with a U. S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Ronald Reagan National Airport, involving a total of 64 people. In a personal message to President Donald Trump, the pope offered spiritual support to the victims and their families as search efforts continued for survivors in the Potomac River area, where the crash occurred. He lamented the loss of lives and prayed for the recovery teams assisting in the aftermath.
The accident took place on January 29 during the approach of American Eagle Flight 5342, which was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, while the helicopter had three soldiers aboard. Emergency teams have retrieved at least 28 bodies from the river, indicating that there may be no survivors. The flight included figure skaters returning from a championship event, and preliminary investigations by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are underway. Bishop Michael Burbidge shared condolences, urging prayers for those affected and support for first responders.