Beijing demands inquiry into Washington mid-air crash that killed 2 Chinese nationals
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has demanded a full investigation into a collision between a passenger jet and a US Army helicopter in Washington on Wednesday night that killed 67 people, including two Chinese nationals.
In a statement on Friday, the ministry expressed its “deepest condolences to all the victims and sympathies to the bereaved families”.
“Two Chinese citizens were unfortunately among the 67 victims of the tragic plane crash at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on January 29,” the statement said.
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The ministry requested that US authorities verify the information, officially notify the Chinese side and assist the victims’ families in managing the aftermath.
China’s US embassy said in statement that it would “provide consular protection and assistance within the scope of its responsibilities”.
Authorities said there were no survivors from the crash, which was the country’s deadliest aviation disaster in more than 20 years.
American Airlines Flight 5342, arriving from Wichita, Kansas, was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members when it collided with a Black Hawk helicopter transporting three military personnel.
Dozens of bodies have been recovered from the Potomac River near the airport, according to reports.
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom was quoted as saying that the passenger plane – a Bombardier CRJ700 – was making a normal approach when “the military aircraft came into [its] path”.
US President Donald Trump on Thursday confirmed at a news conference that there were no survivors, adding that he planned to meet the victims’ families.
“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.”
While the cause of the crash remained unknown, Trump appeared to direct blame at former president Joe Biden’s administration and diversity efforts at the Federal Aviation Administration, suggesting that they led to lowered standards.
Trump also blamed former transport secretary Pete Buttigieg for “badly” running the department. Buttigieg responded on social media, saying that “as families grieve, Trump should be leading, not lying”.
Separately, new US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the helicopter crew involved was “fairly experienced”, and that the accident occurred during “routine” annual retraining on a “standard corridor”.
“The military does dangerous things. It does routine things on a regular basis. Tragically, last night, a mistake was made,” he said, adding that there was “some sort of an elevation issue” with the Black Hawk.
“We’re going to get to the bottom of this,” he said.
Hegseth added that the Army’s 12th Aviation Battalion, which is responsible for the Black Hawk involved in Wednesday’s crash, would be grounded for 48 hours.
The crash was still being investigated, with authorities saying that the cockpit voice recorder and flight-data recorder had been recovered from the wreckage.
This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP’s Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright © 2025 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
Copyright (c) 2025. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
