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Emergency service vehicles are on the scene after American Eagle flight 5342 collided with a Blackhawk helicopter while approaching Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and crashed in the Potomac River Jan. 29, 2025. The flight was inbound to Reagan National Airport at an altitude of about 400 feet and a speed of about 140 miles per hour when it suffered a rapid loss of altitude. The Canadian-made Bombardier CRJ-701 twin-engine jet was manufactured in 2004 and can be configured to carry up to 70 passengers. (OSV News photo/Carlos Barria, Reuters)

U.S. bishops call for prayer after deadly D.C. air collision claims dozens of lives

January 30, 2025
By OSV News
Filed Under: Disaster Relief, Feature, News, World News

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U.S. Catholic bishops — joined by Pope Francis — are calling for prayer after a deadly aviation crash in the nation’s capital claimed dozens of lives.

“Catholics throughout the Archdiocese of Washington today join men and women of good will here and around the world in praying for those who perished in last night’s heartbreaking accident,” Cardinal Wilton D. Gregory, the retired archbishop and current apostolic administrator of the archdiocese, said in a Jan. 30 statement.

Spectators mark a moment of silence during the ISU European Figure Skating Championships at Tondiraba Ice Hall in Tallinn, Estonia, Jan. 30, 2025, in memory of victims who lost their lives in an American Airlines plane crash at Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington late Jan. 29. U.S. figure skaters, their coaches and family members were among the 60 passengers and four crew on the jet that collided with an Army helicopter while on its approach for landing. (OSV News photo/Ints Kalnins, Reuters)

The Jan. 29 midair collision between a regional jet operated by American Airlines and a U.S. military helicopter took place over the Potomac River at approximately 9 p.m.

All on both aircraft are presumed dead.

American Eagle Flight 5342 — which originated in Wichita, Kan. — had been preparing to land at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and carried 60 passengers and four crew members on board. The helicopter involved in the collision, a UH-60 Black Hawk assigned to Fort Belvoir, Va., contained three troops on a routine training flight.

The initial rescue operation was soon declared a recovery effort, with first responders and dive crews battling the Potomac’s icy waters to retrieve the bodies. The incident remains under investigation by multiple agencies led by the National Transportation Safety Board and including the Federal Aviation Administration and the U.S. Army.

“We praise God for the generous assistance of our courageous first responders,” Cardinal Gregory said in his statement. “May this disaster serve as an impetus to strengthen our unity and collaboration.”

Archbishop William E. Lori of nearby Baltimore offered prayers for the families of the lost and the first responders.

“Our hearts go out to those who lost their lives in the tragic collision at Reagan National Airport,” Archbishop Lori said. “Let us pray for them and for their loved ones who mourn them. Our thoughts and prayers are also with the first responders during this very difficult time.”

In a Jan. 30 post on the X social media platform, Bishop Michael F. Burbidge of Arlington, Va., asked people to be “united in prayer for all those tragically impacted by the accident.”

“May we be united in prayer for all those tragically impacted by the accident near Reagan airport,” Bishop Burbidge, whose diocese borders the Potomac, said in his post. “We ask God to embrace them in his love; to grant strength to their families; and to watch over all first responders.”

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy speaks to the media Jan. 30, 2025, after American Eagle flight 5342 collided with a Black Hawk helicopter late Jan. 29 while it was approaching Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to land and crashed into the Potomac River. (OSV News photo/Ken Cedeno, Reuters)

According to the Arlington Diocese, Bishop Burbidge scheduled a 12:05 p.m. liturgy — carried also via livestream — at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington to pray for the victims.

Shortly after the crash, Bishop Carl A. Kemme of Wichita posted on Facebook that he was “praying for all involved” in the disaster.

“It is sobering to think that I and two other priests were on this very flight one week ago on our way to DC for the … March for life,” Bishop Kemme said in his post. “May God bring divine assistance to everyone involved.”

On Jan. 30, Bishop Kemme released a statement on the disaster, saying, “My heart, and the hearts of the faithful of the Diocese of Wichita, go out to the families and loved ones of all those lost in this devastating accident. 

“We pray for the souls of those who perished, including the brave members of our military, the passengers, and the crew,” said Bishop Kemme. “We also pray for comfort and strength for those who mourn, and for the first responders and recovery teams as they continue their difficult work. I encourage all to pray for those affected by this tragedy. May the souls of the departed rest in peace.”

In Jan. 30 comments at the White House, President Donald Trump said the country is in mourning and acknowledged the incident has left many people shaken.

“This was a dark and excruciating night in our nation’s capital and in our nation’s history, and a tragedy of terrible proportions,” he said.

“As one nation, we grieve for every precious soul that has been taken from us, so suddenly,” he said.

In a Jan. 30 telegram to Trump, Pope Francis expressed his “spiritual closeness” to victims and their families and commended the souls of the departed to God’s loving mercy.

“I likewise pray for those involved in the recovery efforts, and invoke upon all in the nation the divine blessings of consolation and strength,” he said.

During a Jan. 30 media briefing, Wichita Mayor Lily Wu thanked local faith leaders who “showed up last night and prayed over” the city’s council after the disaster. Her voice choked with emotion as Wu shared that city officials confirmed there were no survivors.

“This is a terrible tragedy that will unite those in Washington, D.C., and Wichita, Kansas, forever,” she said.

Local media, citing a statement from the city, reported the Greater Wichita Ministerial League organized a prayer service at Wichita’s City Hall on Jan. 30 at noon.

While the victims’ names have not yet been revealed, U.S. Figure Skating, the sport’s governing body, told media that several passengers on the commercial aircraft were young figure skaters returning from a training camp in Wichita. Russian state media reported that several of the skaters were Russian nationals.

This story was co-authored by OSV News’ Gina Christian and Kate Scanlon.

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