Over the dark, frigid Potomac River, a tragic mid-air clash unfolded injuring more than justonlookers.

        In the bustling skies surrounding Washington's capital, mid-air disasters have troubled the skies.

        Two aircraft shared the same airspace with tragic ends.  On one side was a small commercial jet about 2 hours into its trip from Wichita, Kansas to Washington D. C.  The twin-engine turboprop was a regular passenger jet.

        Teenage figure skater, Spencer Lane, had taken a picture of its wing on the tarmac, unconscious of the peril that awaited.  It was a peaceful sight: grayish clouds overhead and the sun beginning to set in the distance. The departing the passengers included a group of young skaters and their families.

        The other side of this disaster was an Army Black Hawk helicopter tasked with conducting a routine night training mission over the river.

        The two aircraft collided high above the Potomac River.  They fell into the icy waters below.

        "It ended as the deadliest US aviation disaster in nearly a quarter century. "

        The two aircraft collided high above the Potomac River.

        As the jet approached Runway 33 of Reagan National Airport, an air traffic controller instructed another flight to alter its course to  a shorter runway. This was to ease the congestion.

        On the Washington side of the river, “Route 4” is a military corridor for low-flying aircraft.

        The Black Hawk was conducting a routine government security mission.

        Unbeknownst to the ground crews and passengers, neither aircraft would touch ground again.

        The Army pilots were veterans of 1, 500 hours in the air.

        The jet’s pilots were equally experienced, each having over 2 years at the airline. The world stopped for a moment of cry for each.

        One controller was juggling two jobs that night, a common occurrence

        But it was potentially a key factor that doomed this flight.

        The NTSB will know.

        The people on board represented a broad cross-section of American society. Students and teachers, biologists and soldiers, businessmen and hunters,

        American Eagle Flight 5342 would be their last ride

        Tim Lilley’s son, Sam, was the first officer on board.

        They shared a love for flying but now his son was gone.

        It hurt.  The two pilots of the Army copter were his helicopter brothers.

        The Air Traffic Controllers are trained to be vigilant and on-the-ball.  But they’re only human.

        “Do you have the CRJ in sight? ” the air traffic controller asked. He was trying to steer the chopper clear of the jet.

        But it was too late.

        Even seasoned air traffic controllers have trouble on busy nights.

        After the collision, emergency services rushed to the scene.

        A 17 year-old, Jimmy Mazel, was stranded with his date on the Potomac.

        A middle-aged man, Roy Best, saw bright spark in the distance.

        Both were hurt in a fresh shocking incident which resulted in heavy heartbreak

        The waters made recovery dangerous and difficult.

        It was an extremely difficult rescue mission in dark, icy water.

        Onboard was an FBI consultation team. The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are still trying to piece the tragedy together.

        The plane may have been cleared to land and had gone ahead, but what of the Black Hawk?

        Travis Boutwell grabbed a whistle to help direct rescue boats to the scene. A US Air Force commander helped coordinate the rescue mission.

        The fact the military was on duty jumped into higher alert.  In the skies above Washington D. C. , an unthinkable tragedy had struck.

Hearts Lost, Heroes Gone: Mid-Air Tragedy

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