A devastating mid-air collision over the Potomac River on Wednesday night has left at least 28 people dead, with no survivors expected.
An American Airlines regional jet carrying 60 passengers and four crew members collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter while approaching Ronald Reagan National Airport, marking one of the deadliest aviation disasters in recent U.S. history.
The routine flight, American Airlines Flight 5342, had departed Wichita, Kansas, and was moments from landing when the unthinkable happened. Air traffic controllers had instructed the incoming jet to land on Runway 33 and cleared the Army helicopter, conducting a training flight, to pass behind it.
Instead, the two aircraft collided at roughly 400 feet above the river, sending both spiraling into the icy waters below.

Rescue teams worked through the night, but hopes of finding survivors quickly faded. “We are transitioning from rescue to recovery,” said John Donnelly, Washington, D.C.’s fire chief. “It’s an unbearable loss.”
Among the passengers were U.S. and Russian figure skaters returning from a training camp. The U.S. Figure Skating Association confirmed the loss of former world champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, adding to the heartbreak of the tragedy.

Investigators are now scrambling to determine what went wrong. With Reagan National sitting in one of the most controlled airspaces in the world, aviation experts are questioning how the two aircraft ended up on a collision course.

“We don’t know why the military aircraft entered the path of our plane,” American Airlines CEO Robert Isom stated, vowing full cooperation with investigators.

The crash is already drawing comparisons to the 1982 Air Florida disaster, in which a plane crashed into the Potomac under icy conditions.
However, with clear weather on Wednesday night, experts believe the cause lies elsewhere—possibly miscommunication or a tragic miscalculation.

The FAA, NTSB, and the U.S. Army have launched a multi-agency probe into the incident, with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy pledging a full investigation.

As the search for wreckage and answers continues, the nation mourns another aviation tragedy, leaving families shattered and a country searching for clarity in the face of immense loss.

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has taken a firm stance against the proposed cost variation for the construction of a second runway at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
The contract cost, which skyrocketed from ₦90 billion to ₦532 billion in just two years, was labelled as “unjustifiable” by the minister.
Speaking before the National Assembly Joint Committee on Aviation, Keyamo underscored the government’s commitment to fiscal discipline and accountability, describing the proposed variation as a betrayal of financial prudence.
“This kind of cost escalation is completely unacceptable. We are here to serve the people, and we cannot justify such an astronomical increase,” he declared.
To address the impasse, Keyamo revealed that two alternative proposals from Chinese firms are under review and will soon be presented to President Bola Tinubu for consideration.
“We are exploring other options that are cost-effective without compromising quality,” he said, hinting at a shift towards more competitive project management practices.
During the meeting, the committee also reviewed 124 ongoing aviation projects inherited by the ministry. Keyamo reassured lawmakers of a new project monitoring team aimed at enhancing transparency and ensuring timely delivery.
He also highlighted successful public-private partnerships (PPP) in Enugu and Oyo states, which have taken over specific airport operations.
“This isn’t about being overwhelmed but about leveraging partnerships for better results, as directed by the President,” he explained.

Keyamo defended the decentralization of the Zaria Aviation College, which faced criticism over its overcrowded hostels.
By expanding access to other parts of the country, the ministry aims to make aviation training more inclusive.
“It’s about expanding opportunities for students nationwide while ensuring quality training remains intact,” he stated.
Responding to Senator Ireti Kingibe’s critique of the Aerospace University, Keyamo clarified that the initiative was designed to cater to the specialized needs of the aviation sector.
“The Aerospace University is not a duplication of effort. It’s about creating a dedicated hub for knowledge and innovation in the aviation industry,” he explained.
Keyamo’s rejection of the controversial variation and his strategic pivot toward cost-effective alternatives highlight the government’s focus on smarter spending and long-term growth.

As Nigeria evaluates new proposals for the Abuja runway project, Keyamo’s leadership sends a clear message: reckless spending has no runway in this administration.

Following rampant cases of flight cancellations and delays in the Aviation sector, the Senate at plenary on Wednesday summoned the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, (SAN) and other stakeholders in the sector.
The resolution was reached after the adoption and approval of a motion by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, who is representing Oyo North Senatorial District in the National Assembly.
Titled, “Incessant Delayed and cancelled flights by Airline Operators in Nigeria,” the Senator in his motion, drew the attention of his colleagues to the worrisome development.
Buhari noted series of reportage in both the prints and electronic media as well as the social media in the country, on the incessant delay and cancellation of flights by Airline operators in Nigeria.
He said the situation, ceaselessly seemed to be on the increase in recent time.
He said, “The Senate notes that this development is worrisome as air travel is one of the most reliable, dependable and quicker means of transportation.
“Air travels are often undertaken for business/official purposes and to keep to other scheduled appointments, which are usually time bound.
“Therefore, unwarranted flight delays and cancellations will be counterproductive to the socio-economic growth and development of this country.
“The Senate further notes that as part of interventionist measures to check unethical and unwholesome practices of the practitioners in the aviation sector, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), is statutory empowered, through the enactment of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Act, to among other things, provide oversight.
“It also produced guidelines aimed at ensuring that airlines operate within the contemplation of international standards in Nigeria and to ensure that airline customers get value for the services they pay the airlines for.
“The Senate observes that the quests for economic diversification and foreign direct investment, which are parts of the. current administration’s policy thrust, will remain an illusion if the country’s aviation industry falls short ofbacceptable best practices across the globe.
“The Senate is aware that part 19 of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority Regulations of 2023, makes provisions for consumer protection in the Civil Aviation industry in Nigeria.
“However, enforcement has been an issue as most Nigeriane. are not even aware that they are entitled to compensation for time lost due to unnecessary delay, hence the need for the NCAA to activate this aspect of its Regulation so that Airline operators will seat up and be alive to their responsibilities.”
The Senate, after a robust debate on the matter, therefore mandated it’s Committee on Aviation to invite the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development to interface with its members.
Others mandated to appear before the panel included, Director General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority; Airline Operators and other relevant stakeholders.
The essence of the engagement is to among other things, unravel the circumstances behind the incessant flight delays and cancellations with a view finding lasting solutions to the problem.
The Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Tahir Monguno; the Minority Leader, Abba Moro; Senator Orji Uzor Kalu; and the Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, spoke in support of the motion.