Kansas officials express ‘great sorrow' after deadly DC plane crash that took off from Wichita

Emergency response units search the crash site of the American Airlines plane on the Potomac River after the plane crashed on approach to Reagan National Airport on Jan. 30, 2025, in Washington, D.C. The American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas collided in midair with a military helicopter while approaching the airport. ()
TOPEKA — Kansas public officials offered condolences Thursday for the nearly 70 people killed in a collision between a passenger jet from Wichita and a military helicopter near Washington, and at least one state lawmaker denounced those who have politicized the tragedy.
Kansas' congressional delegation together issued a somber statement Thursday saying it was likely many of them directly or indirectly know people on American Airlines Flight 5342, which departed from Wichita's Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport around 5:20 p.m. Wednesday.
'This is a sad day for Kansans and our nation, and this community, steeped in aviation and manufacturing history, will feel the pain of this catastrophe for years to come,' the statement said.
Wichita is known as the 'air capital of the world' because of its reputation as a hub of aircraft manufacturing for a century, and it's home to more than nearly 500 companies in the aerospace manufacturing field.
The passenger jet and the Army Black Hawk helicopter crashed in midair as the jet was attempting to land around 8:45 p.m. ET at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Virginia. The remnants of the aircraft were found bobbing in the water of the Potomac River, and officials have said all involved are presumed dead. First responders shifted early Thursday morning from a search and rescue mission to recovery as windy, cold and dark conditions proved difficult.
Senate President Ty Masterson, a Republican from the Wichita suburb of Andover, said Thursday morning 'our hearts are filled with great sorrow as we try to fathom the unfathomable. '
Jeanna Repass, the chairwoman of the Kansas Democratic Party, landed at Reagan National Airport traveling from Wichita hours before the crash, she said in a Thursday post to Facebook.
'Moments of tragedy have a way of reminding us (of) our shared humanity and human experiences of love and loss, and joy and pain, and grief,' she wrote.
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, who issued a statement within hours of the crash Wednesday indicating her communication with authorities, said Thursday she has been in 'constant communication with federal, state and local officials.'
'I am deeply saddened by the tragic loss of lives last night and extend my deepest condolences to the victims' families and loved ones,' she said in a statement.
She ordered flags throughout Kansas be lowered to half-staff until sundown Feb. 6.
The Federal Aviation Administration issued a preliminary report shortly after the incident, as is customary practice for aviation-related accidents. The National Transportation Safety Board, the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Army have all launched investigations.
Pete Hegseth, the newly confirmed U.S. secretary of defense, said in a social media post that the Army helicopter was participating in a training flight from Fort Belvoir in Virginia.
In a press briefing from the White House, President Donald Trump expressed condolences and then blamed the Biden Administration's diversity, equity and inclusion policies – without citing evidence – for the crash. He also said the helicopter pilot should have seen the jet and moved out of the way.
Rep. Alexis Simmons, a Topeka Democrat, said in a Facebook post Thursday morning condemning those online who have politicized the incident or joked about disliking Wichita.
'Neither of these are appropriate, to say the very least. This is particularly true for people who do not live in Wichita, and never have,' Simmons said. 'This is a tragic, violent loss of life that took dozens of family members, friends, brothers, sisters, coaches, neighbors, colleagues, and more.'
The Wichita flight carried competitive figure skaters, their coaches and family members from the U.S. and Russia who were in Kansas for the U.S. Figure Skating Championships and a training camp held in conjunction, according to a statement from U.S. Figure Skating.
American Airlines has requested anyone who believes they had a loved one on board to call 800-679-8215.

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