Tragedy Over the Potomac River: Remembering the Crew and Passengers Lost in a Rare Mid-Air Collision

What began as an ordinary, crisp winter evening in the Washington, D.C. area quickly turned into one of the most devastating aviation tragedies the United States has experienced in more than a decade. An American Airlines flight, inbound from Wichita, Kansas, was on final approach to land at Reagan National Airport when, in a matter of seconds, it collided midair with a U.S. military Black Hawk helicopter over the icy waters of the Potomac River. The scene that followed would leave a lasting scar on aviation history and the hearts of countless families.