Azerbaijan’s President Expresses Condolences to Trump Following Washington Air Collision

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has extended condolences to U.S. President Donald Trump following a midair collision between a regional passenger aircraft and a military helicopter near Washington, D.C., that resulted in multiple fatalities.

"We are extremely saddened by the news of numerous casualties due to the tragic collision of a passenger plane and a military helicopter near Washington. On behalf of myself and the Azerbaijani people, I extend my deepest condolences to you, the families of the victims, and the American people," Aliyev stated in a letter of condolence.

A Bombardier CRJ700, operating as Flight 5342 for American Airlines’ regional carrier PSA Airlines, collided with a Sikorsky H-60 Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River at approximately 9:00 p.m. local time on Tuesday, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported. The incident occurred as the plane was making its approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

The aircraft, carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, along with the three military personnel aboard the helicopter, plunged into the river. The crash prompted a large-scale emergency response, with about 300 rescue personnel deployed in boats to search for survivors.

"The search is extremely challenging due to high winds, freezing temperatures, and ice in the water," John Donnelly, chief of the D.C. Fire Department, told reporters.

There has been no official confirmation of the number of casualties. However, CBS News, citing a police officer at the scene, reported that 18 bodies had been recovered, and no survivors had been located. Two sources told Reuters that several bodies had been retrieved from the water, but authorities have not confirmed the total number of victims.

At a press briefing, officials declined to provide casualty figures, stating that their primary focus remained on rescue efforts. Senator Roger Marshall suggested that "most, if not all" of those on board may have perished.

Following the crash, the airport suspended all arrivals and departures. American Airlines confirmed the identities of those aboard the flight, while Pentagon officials stated that the helicopter had departed from Fort Belvoir in Virginia on a routine training mission.

Relatives of passengers gathered at the airport expressed frustration over the lack of official updates, saying they had learned details through media reports.

Meanwhile, Russia’s TASS news agency, citing an unnamed source, claimed that former world figure skating champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were among the passengers on board. The Kremlin did not confirm this information, but spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that "unfortunately, the initial reports are proving accurate."

A security camera at Washington’s Kennedy Center captured an explosion in the sky at 8:47 p.m., moments before the aircraft was seen engulfed in flames and falling into the river.

U.S. President Donald Trump acknowledged the incident, calling it a "terrible accident" and commending first responders for their efforts. "I am monitoring the situation and will provide updates as soon as more information becomes available," he stated. On his TruthSocial account, Trump wrote: "This is a bad situation that, it seems, should have been prevented. NOT GOOD!!!"

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said they were closely monitoring developments. When asked about possible changes to flight routes around Reagan Airport, Duffy responded, "We will take appropriate measures if necessary."

In a video message, American Airlines CEO Robert Isom pledged full cooperation with the National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation.

While the U.S. has not witnessed a fatal passenger plane crash since 2009, a series of near-miss incidents in recent years has raised safety concerns. The last major aviation disaster in the area occurred in 1982, when an Air Florida jet crashed into a bridge over the Potomac River, killing 74 people.