Responders Recall Mission of Recovery and Grief After Deadly Midair Collision Near DC

Emergency personnel recount harrowing efforts to recover victims and belongings one year after crash that killed 67 people.

Jan. 29, 2026 at 1:47pm

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One year after a deadly midair collision between an American Airlines passenger plane and an Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River near Washington, D.C., the emergency responders who dove into the frigid, debris-filled water to recover victims and personal effects are reflecting on the traumatic mission. The crash on January 29, 2025, killed all 67 people on board the two aircraft, and the responders faced gruesome sights as they worked to return the victims to their families.

Why it matters

The crash was the deadliest plane accident on U.S. soil in more than 20 years, triggering the region's largest emergency response since 9/11. The story highlights the immense emotional toll on the first responders, many of whom were parents themselves, as well as the importance of providing mental health support in the aftermath of such a tragic incident involving multiple fatalities, especially those of children.

The details

The collision occurred just moments before the American Airlines flight was set to land at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Divers and other emergency personnel spent nearly a week recovering all 67 victims from about 8 feet of water, facing hazardous conditions like cold temperatures, jet fuel, and jagged wreckage. They also spent months scouring the river for personal effects to return to the grieving families.

  • The crash occurred on January 29, 2025 at 8:48 p.m.
  • The recovery efforts lasted for nearly a week following the incident.
  • In the spring, first responders took the families of the victims out on the river to lay flowers at the crash sites.

The players

John Donnelly

The District of Columbia's Fire and EMS chief, who oversaw the emergency response and prioritized the families, the investigation, and the safety of the responders.

Tim Lilley

The father of Sam Lilley, the co-pilot of the American Airlines flight, who later visited the crash site with his wife to lay flowers.

Robert Varga

A 16-year member of the Metropolitan Police Department scuba diving team who was one of the first responders in the water that night.

Sam Short

A Washington fire rescue squad lieutenant who was among the first on the scene and witnessed gruesome sights.

Jeffrey Leslie

A police officer and diver who spent hours at the crash site that night and returned multiple times over the following months.

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What they’re saying

“If you've ever been out on the Potomac, it's not a pleasant place to dive under the best conditions. But on that night, the fact that they're getting in the water and doing everything that they could was amazing.”

— Tim Lilley, Father of crash victim (wbal.com)

“We were able to talk to the actual person that helped pull my son out of the water. It was a huge emotional experience, and it was so healing.”

— Tim Lilley, Father of crash victim (wbal.com)

“There's a lot of different things that we saw and did that night. You just can't describe it to people.”

— Sam Short, Washington fire rescue squad lieutenant (wbal.com)

“We hope that we were able to provide just a sliver of closure to them.”

— Robert Varga, Metropolitan Police Department scuba diver (wbal.com)

What’s next

The National Transportation Safety Board is continuing its investigation into the causes of the midair collision.

The takeaway

This tragic incident highlights the immense emotional toll on first responders who must confront such devastating loss of life, especially involving children, and the critical importance of providing comprehensive mental health support to help them cope with the trauma they experienced.