Details are starting to emerge about the devastating air crash that involved a commercial airplane and a helicopter.
Authorities are bracing for the confirmation of more than 60 fatalities after an American Airlines flight collided with a Black Hawk helicopter over Washington D.C. on January 29.
The tragedy struck as Flight 5342 was in its final approach to land at Ronald Reagan National Airport, which immediately halted all flights in and out. Law enforcement and rescue teams have been swarming the area, searching for survivors.
The crash led to a massive search operation, with officials combing the Potomac River for bodies after both aircraft plunged into the water. As of now, 28 bodies have been recovered, but the toll is expected to increase.
Among the confirmed passengers on the flight was 26-year-old Spencer Lane, a member of the U.S. figure skating team.
Before the crash, and just prior to taking off from Wichita Airport in Kansas, Lane posted something on social media that now feels haunting. At around 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday, he shared a photo of the wing of the ill-fated plane from his window seat, captioning it with “ICT -> DCA”—the airport codes for Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
Other top athletes from the American figure skating team are also believed to have been on the flight. Many were set to compete in the upcoming Winter Olympics.
They were heading back to the D.C. area after participating in a National Development Camp for young skaters in Wichita, Kansas.
On January 30, authorities provided a somber update regarding the incident.
