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A midair collision between an Army helicopter and a jetliner killed all 67 people aboard the two aircraft, officials said Thursday, as they scrutinized the actions of the military pilot in the country’s deadliest aviation disaster in almost a quarter century, Associated Press reported.

At least 28 bodies were pulled from the icy waters of the Potomac River after the helicopter apparently flew into the path of the American Airlines regional jet late Wednesday while it was landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport, just across the river from Washington, officials said. The plane carried 60 passengers and four crew members, and three soldiers were aboard the helicopter.

President Donald Trump told a White House news conference that no one survived.

“We are now at the point where we are switching from a rescue operation to a recovery operation,” said John Donnelly, the fire chief in the nation’s capital.

The crash occurred before 9 p.m. in some of the most tightly controlled and monitored airspace in the world, just over 3 miles (about 4.8 kilometers) south of the White House and the Capitol.

Air crash investigations can take months, and federal investigators told reporters they would not speculate on the cause, according to Associated Press.

National Transportation Safety Board investigators recovered the cockpit voice recorder and the flight data recorder from the Bombardier CRJ700 airplane, agency spokesperson Peter Knudson said. They were at the agency’s labs for evaluation.

The plane was found upside-down in three sections in waist-deep water, and first responders were searching miles of the Potomac, Donnelly said. The helicopter wreckage was also found. Images from the river showed boats around the partly submerged wing and the mangled wreckage of the plane’s fuselage.

American Airlines CEO Robert Isom said the plane was making a normal approach when “the military aircraft came into the path” of the jet.

One air traffic controller was responsible for coordinating helicopter traffic and arriving and departing planes when the collision happened, according to a report by the Federal Aviation Administration that was obtained by The Associated Press. Those duties are often divided between two people, but the airport typically combines the roles at 9:30 p.m, once traffic begins to slow down. On Wednesday the tower supervisor directed that they be combined earlier.

“The position configuration was not normal for the time of day and volume of traffic,” the report said. A person familiar with the matter, however, said the tower staffing that night was at a normal level.

The positions are regularly combined when controllers need to step away from the console for breaks, during shift changes or when air traffic is slow, the person said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal procedures.

The Federal Aviation Administration has long struggled with a shortage of air traffic controllers.

Officials said flight conditions were clear as the jet arrived from Wichita, Kansas, carrying, among others, a group of elite young figure skaters, their parents and coaches, and four union steamfitters from the Washington area.

A top Army aviation official said the crew of the helicopter, a Black Hawk, was “very experienced” and familiar with the congested flying that occurs daily around the city, Associated Press reported.

“Both pilots had flown this specific route before, at night. This wasn’t something new to either one of them,” said Jonathan Koziol, chief of staff for Army aviation.

Adhyayan School and Leapfrog Technology in collaboration with Code for Nepal and Veda have organized Nepal’s first-ever inter-school hackathon. This event, held in Kathmandu, brings together 235 students from 33 schools to tackle educational challenges under the theme “The Future of Learning.”

The hackathon comprises an orientation, a boot camp, a mentorship phase, and Demo Day,

spanning from January 26 to February 19, 2025, according to the organizer.  It officially commenced with an orientation session on January 26, 2025, at Leapfrog Technology. Students from grades 7 to 10 will harness the power of Scratch and Python to develop innovative solutions addressing issues in education, health, and society, under the guidance of 32 expert mentors, organizer said. 

On the final day, the top seven teams will present their projects at Rastriya Nach Ghar, where the winners will be awarded cash prizes of Rs. 1,00,000, Rs. 75,000, and Rs. 50,000, respectively. More than just a competition, Hack-अ-Thon fosters creativity, problem-solving, and social responsibility, aiming to shape Nepal’s next generation of tech leaders, according to the organizer. 

Speaker Devraj Ghimire has said that festivals of every Nepali caste and community have further enriched the Nepali society.

Extending best wishes for happiness, peace and prosperity to all Nepali sisters and brothers at home and abroad on the occasion of Sonam Lhosar-2081 BS, he said festivals like Lhosar have provided an opportunity to strengthen mutual unity and cooperation among the Nepali community.

Sonam Lhosar, an important festival of the Tamang community, is celebrated with great enthusiasm as the beginning of the New Year.

Speaker Ghimire said that this festival, Lhosar, in which 'Lho' meaning year and 'Sar' meaning new, will give a message of new energy, prosperity and positive change.

"Sonam Lhosar is the indigenous festival of the Tamang community. The festival has become a unique example of cultural vibrancy, celebrated amidst the playing of the traditional Damphu musical drum and singing of Tamang Selo folk songs, wearing traditional costumes and relishing special dishes," the Speaker stated in his message.

President Ram Chandra Paudel has expressed the conviction that festivals like Sonam Lhosar contribute to further consolidating national unity.

In his message of best wishes on the occasion of Sonam Lhosar, festival of the Tamang community today, the Head of State expressed the belief that festivals such as Sonam Lhosar would foster mutual goodwill, tolerance and the sentiment of fraternity in the Nepali society characterized by multi-ethnic, multi-lingual and multi-cultural diversity.

"I wish that the Sonam Lhosar festival further strengthens the unity among all Nepalis and gives energy to all to move ahead to build an economically and socially prosperous country," president Paudel said.

The Sonam Lhosar is celebrated on the day of Magh Shukla Pratipada, the first day of the bright fortnight in the month of Magh as per the lunar calendar. It is the New Year festival of the Tamang community.

On this festival, the Tamang community people offer worship to their clan deity, perform nature worship and recall Buddha's teachings, and also exchange happiness among each other amidst festive celebrations in gatherings.

Along with the Tamangs, other communities such as the Hyolmo, Thakali, Jirel, Nesyangwa, Bhote, Dura, Lepcha, etc living in different parts of the country, have also been celebrating this festival according to their own customs and tradition.