Washington, D.C. — A devastating midair collision between a PSA Airlines-operated American Eagle Flight 5342 and a U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter has claimed the lives of all 67 people on board both aircraft, including Kiah Duggins, a former Miss Kansas contestant and a rising academic set to join Howard University as a professor. The tragic accident occurred Wednesday evening over the Potomac River, near Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), sending both aircraft into the icy waters below.

Federal authorities have confirmed that there are no survivors from the crash, making it one of the deadliest aviation disasters in recent U.S. history. Rescue crews, including the D.C. Fire Department, U.S. Coast Guard, and the FBI, have been working tirelessly to recover victims from the wreckage.

Kiah Duggins: A Life Cut Short Too Soon

Among the victims was Kiah Duggins, an accomplished scholar, former Miss Kansas contestant, and future Howard University professor. Duggins had a promising career ahead of her and was deeply passionate about education and empowering young Black students in academia. Her friends and colleagues described her as a bright, dedicated, and compassionate individual who aimed to uplift marginalized voices.

“Kiah had so much ahead of her. She was a mentor, an advocate, and a brilliant academic mind. She was going to change lives at Howard University, and we are heartbroken by this loss,” said Dr. Angela Wright, a professor at Howard University who had been working with Duggins before her untimely passing.

Duggins, originally from Kansas, had a strong academic background and had been involved in community service, activism, and mentorship programs throughout her career. She had recently completed her doctoral studies and was preparing for her first semester as an assistant professor at Howard this coming fall.

Details of the Deadly Collision

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the crash occurred at approximately 8:45 PM EST when American Eagle Flight 5342, an Embraer ERJ-145 regional jet, collided midair with a U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter conducting a routine training mission.

Victims Identified: Remembering the Lives Lost

Authorities have released the names of several victims from both aircraft, including crew members, passengers, and military personnel. The full list of identified victims includes:

American Eagle Flight 5342 (PSA Airlines, operated for American Airlines)

• Captain Jonathan Campos, 34
• First Officer Samuel Lilley, 29
• Flight Attendant Danasia Elder
• Flight Attendant Ian Epstein
• Kiah Duggins, future Howard University professor
• Everly Livingston, figure skater
• Lydia Livingston, figure skater
• Spencer Lane, U.S. figure skater
• Jinna Han, figure skater
• Edward Zhou, figure skater
• Franco Aparicio, figure skater
• Sean Kay, figure skater
• Angela Yang, coach
• Vadim Naumov, Russian world champion figure skater
• Evgenia Shishkova, Russian world champion figure skater
• Inna Volyanskaya, Russian figure skating coach

U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk Helicopter (PAT25)

• Chief Warrant Officer Andrew Eaves, pilot
• Ryan O’Hara, crew chief
• Two additional U.S. Army personnel (names withheld pending family notification)

Eyewitnesses Describe Horror in the Skies

Several eyewitnesses on the ground reported seeing a large fireball as the two aircraft collided over the Potomac River, followed by debris falling into the water. Many described hearing a loud explosion before seeing both aircraft disappear below the surface.

“I was driving on the bridge when I saw the sky light up. It was like something out of a movie,” said Marcus Hall, a D.C. resident who witnessed the crash. “The plane just broke apart. It was terrifying.”

Ongoing Investigations: How Did This Happen?

The FAA and NTSB are conducting a full investigation into the cause of the accident. Officials have already recovered the black boxes from both aircraft and will analyze flight data, air traffic control communications, and radar recordings to determine what led to the deadly midair collision.

Preliminary reports indicate that the Black Hawk helicopter was conducting a training flight from Fort Belvoir, Virginia, and may have been navigating restricted airspace near the Washington, D.C. corridor at the time of the crash. Investigators are now looking into whether air traffic control miscommunications, equipment failure, or pilot error contributed to the tragedy.

National and International Reactions

The crash has drawn reactions from across the country and beyond:

• President Joe Biden issued a statement expressing condolences to the families of the victims, calling the crash “an unspeakable tragedy” and vowing a thorough investigation.
• Howard University released a statement mourning Kiah Duggins, noting that “her loss is deeply felt across the academic community.”
• The International Skating Union (ISU) also released a statement mourning the figure skaters lost in the crash, calling it a “heartbreaking day for the sport.”

Memorial Services and Tributes Planned

Memorial services for the victims are already being planned in Washington, D.C., Kansas, and other states where passengers and crew members had family ties. Howard University is organizing a tribute in honor of Kiah Duggins, while the U.S. Army will hold a military memorial for the soldiers lost in the crash.

Aviation Community in Mourning

This tragic event has sent shockwaves through the aviation, military, and academic communities. As authorities continue their investigation, families are left grieving the unimaginable loss of their loved ones.

With no survivors confirmed, the recovery mission has transitioned into retrieval efforts, with crews working around the clock in the frigid waters of the Potomac to bring closure to the families of the victims.

What Comes Next?

The FAA and NTSB are expected to release further findings in the coming days, but for now, the nation mourns the loss of 67 lives in one of the most tragic aviation disasters in recent history.