MIAMI LAKES, Fla. - Miami Lakes House Republican Tom Fabricio offered his condolences on Thursday after an American Airlines passenger flight collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River near Reagan National Airport near Washington, D.C.
"My heartfelt prayers are with the families and loved ones of those affected by the tragic collision near Reagan National Airport last night," Fabricio said. "May they find strength and comfort during this unimaginable time."
The crash, which occurred just before 9 p.m. Wednesday, killed all 67 people. The passenger plane was carrying 64 people from Wichita, Kansas while the Black Hawk helicopter carried three soldiers on a training mission out of Davidson Air Base at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
Among those lost were 14 people returning home from a national figure skating development camp in Wichita. Two of the victims, Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova, were coaches and Russian world champions in pairs competition in 1994.
Both passenger flight pilots confirmed dead were Jonathan Campos and Samuel Lilly. Campos was a captain with the airline since 2022 while Lilly, the second pilot in command, started his flight training in 2019.
The Black Hawk helicopter crew chief was also identified as Ryan O'Hara. O'Hara was an alum of Parkview High in Gwinnett County, Georgia.
Lilly also was a Georgia native. Republican Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp mourned the loss of both pilots on Thursday, saying both men "shared a passion for flight and for serving others."
With recovery efforts underway, lawmakers have begun to demand answers on what caused the accident, the first major commercial crash in the United States since 2009.
Around noon Thursday, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced an investigation into the crash by the Army and Department of Defense. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy also offered his agency's full assistance.
In remarks Thursday morning, President Donald Trump attacked Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) after the deadly incident.
"We must have only the highest standards for those who work in our aviation system," Trump said. "Only the highest aptitude — you have to be the highest intellect — and psychologically superior people, were allowed to qualify for air traffic controllers."
