❌

Reading view

There are new articles available, click to refresh the page.

Plane crashes in sports have devastated pro teams and college programs

The crash of an American Airlines jet that collided with an Army helicopter was the latest to strike the sports world in the U.S. and globally.

Among the passengers were several members of the Skating Club of Boston who were returning from the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas. They included teenage figure skaters Jinna Han and Spencer Lane, their mothers and two highly regarded Russian-born figure skating coaches, Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov. All 64 people on board were feared dead.

RELATED STORY | Champion figure skaters among those on board the plane that crashed into the Potomac

Air travel accidents in sports are rare, but they have had devastating impacts on national programs, amateur teams and professional clubs.

A look at some of the plane crash tragedies that have struck the sports world over the decades:

Manchester United football club

On Feb. 6, 1958, a plane carrying the Manchester United team and officials crashed as it attempted to take off on a slush-covered runway in Munich. The team was returning from a European Cup match against Red Star Belgrade, and the plane stopped to refuel in Munich. Among the 23 people were killed were eight Man U players and three team officials. Among those who survived was England great Bobby Charlton.

U.S. Figure Skating team

On Feb 15, 1961, a commercial flight carrying all 18 members of the U.S. Figure Skating team to the world championships in Prague crashed near the Brussels airport, killing everyone one board. Six coaches were also on the plane, along with four team officials and six of the groups family members.

Wichita State University football

On Oct. 2, 1970, one of two chartered jets carrying the Wichita State football team to a game in Utah crashed near Silver Plume, Colorado. Of the 40 on board, 31 died, including 14 players along with coaches, boosters, administrators, trainers and three crew members. The NTSB later said the crash could be attributed primarily to pilot error.

Marshall University football

On Nov. 14, 1970, a chartered jet carrying the Thundering Herd crashed in fog and rain into a hillside upon approach to an airport near Huntington as the team returned from a game at East Carolina. All 75 on board were killed, including 36 football players and 39 school administrators, coaches, fans, spouses and flight crew.

RELATED STORY | 67 people presumed dead after collision between military helicopter and plane

Uruguay rugby club

On Oct. 13, 1972, a chartered Uruguayan Air Force flight carrying the Old Christians Club from Montevideo Uruguay, to Santiago, Chile, crashed in the snowy Andes Mountains. The wreckage was not found for two months and only 16 of the 45 people on board survived. Facing snow storms, avalanches and starvation, survivors awaiting rescue were forced to eat the flesh of those who had died, and their ordeal has been chronicled in books and movies.

Evansville University basketball

On Dec. 13, 1977, an Air Indiana chartered plane with the Evansville University men's basketball team crashed 90 seconds after takeoff from the Evansville airport. The 29 people killed included 14 players and first-year head coach Bobby Watson.

U.S. Boxing team

On March 14, 1980 the U.S. amateur boxing team was flying from New York to Poland for international events ahead of the 1980 Moscow Olympics when their plane crashed near Warsaw. All 87 on board were killed, including 14 boxers and eight team staff members. Two months later, the U.S. decided to boycott the Olympics due to the Soviet Unions invasion of Afghanistan.

Zambia national soccer team

On April 28, 1993, a military aircraft carrying Zambias national soccer team to a World Cup qualifying match crashed into the sea minutes after takeoff from Libreville, Zambia. The team was on its way to play Senegal in the second round of qualifying for the 1994 World Cup. Eighteen players and five team officials were killed.

Oklahoma State University basketball

On Jan. 27, 2001, a turboprop plane carrying 10 men associated with the Oklahoma State University basketball team, including players Nate Fleming and Daniel Lawson, crashed shortly after takeoff near Boulder, Colorado, after the Cowboys had played at the University of Colorado. Six team staffers and broadcasters also were killed.

Russian ice hockey team

On Sept. 7, 2011, 36 players, coaches and staff of the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl professional ice hockey team were killed when their plane crashed near Yaroslavl in central Russia. Investigators said one of the two pilots accidentally put the wheel brakes on during takeoff. Of the 45 people on board, 44 died. The only player who survived the initial crash later died of burns. A flight engineer was the sole survivor.

Raising Canes opening first metro Detroit location on Tuesday with celebration & Jack Fox appearance

National chicken finger restaurant Raising Cane's is opening up its first metro Detroit location on Tuesday, Feb. 4 with a celebration.

According to Raising Cane's, the location at 144218 Ford Rd. in Canton will have the grand opening celebration that will include Detroit Lions punter Jack Fox.

This will be only the second Raising Cane's location in Michigan the first is in Lansing.

Fox will arrive to the location around *;45 a.m. and participate in a ribbon-cutting ceremony, serve drive-thru customers, accept a $2,500 donation, sign posters and more.

Fans can get in line early and there will be a "Lucky 20" drawing to award 20 customers free Raising Cane's for a year. Entries will be accepted from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.

There will also be giveaways for combos, complimentary coffee and more.

The restaurant will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m.

Residents evacuated after gas leak in Monroe

Residents in Monroe were evacuated after a gas leak, the Public Safety Department said in a Public Service Announcement posted on Facebook.

The department said that the gas leak occurred in the 600 block of John Anderson Court, west of West Lorain Street and North Telegraph Road.

The public is asked to avoid the area until further notice while the cause of the leak is investigated.

"We thank you for your cooperation and we will update the public once the all clear is given to return to the area," the department concluded in the post.

15-year-old Sevonia dreams of being in the WNBA or being an author

Our Grant Me Hope child this week is 15-year-old Sevonia, who wants to be an author when she grows up.

Sevonia told the Michigan Adoption Resource Exchange "I like to make every moment matter and I like to make people laugh."

Sevonia also loves watching movies after school and hanging out on the weekends.

She also likes staying active by swimming, bowling, riding bikes, riding horses, playing soccer, volleyball and basketball.

"Faith is important to me because when I lost my mom, I got closer to God. I like basketball. Soccer. Volleyball. My dream goal is to be in the WNBA. My favorite player is Michael Jordan," Sevonia said.

She also enjoys quieter times by coloring, painting and making crafts, and she likes playing board games, especially Candyland. She loves animals including dogs, cats, horses, ferrets and pretty much any animal she runs into! says one of Sevonias close adults. Her favorite holidays include Easter and Christmas, and Sevonia likes celebrating them by making videos, laughing, talking and spending time with family. When she gets older, Sevonia wants to be a social worker who helps children. She dreams of traveling to Florida and California to do some exploring. Since making every moment matter is important to Sevonia, she hopes a forever family will savor time together talking, playing and taking pictures to preserve their memories. And she hopes they enjoy some of her favorite activities such as bowling, swimming, doing crafts and going out to eat.

Sevonia is described as a bubbly, outgoing and very energetic young lady. Adds an adult close to her,

Sevonia likes to stick up for others and enjoys helping other people. She is open and a good communicator, a close adult said. She also does well in school and loves reading.

A single female parent with a strong support network or two female parents would make a great fit for Sevonia. She would do best as the youngest child in her new forever family, and she would love to have sisters. Her new parent or parents should be experienced, trauma informed and able to make sure she gets the services that will benefit her now and into the future. A forever family must be willing to let Sevonia maintain her sibling relationships if she desires. Finally, Sevonia wants a family who has pets and says dogs and horses are her favorite

For more information on Sevonia, visit the Michigan Adoption Resource Exchange website, and view a list of waiting children there. You can also view more stories on our Grant Me Hope page.

Trump suggests DEI could be to blame for fatal mid-air collision amid ongoing investigation

President Donald Trump suggested on Thursday that the Department of Transportation's hiring practices may have played a role in a mid-air collision between a regional jet and a Black Hawk helicopter.

He claimed that the Biden and Obama administrations lowered the standard to become an air traffic controller with the Federal Aviation Administration.

"They put a big push to put diversity into the FAA program," he said.

Authorities said that it was likely no one on board the helicopter and the airplane survived the crash. At least 30 bodies have been pulled from the Potomac River, officials said.

Officials are at the beginning stages of their investigation, and the cause of the crash has not officially been determined. The National Transportation Safety Board is launching an investigation, but as President Trump noted, its investigations can take months or even years to complete.

RELATED STORY | DC Fire: 'We don't believe there are any survivors' after helicopter collides with passenger jet

It is unknown who was the air traffic controller or whether human error was a factor.

In his address, President Trump blasted the Biden and Obama administrations' policies that promoted the hiring of people with disabilities for government jobs. He claimed that the approach was in place as part of a broader diversity, equity, and inclusion hiring policy within the federal government that he has sought to end.

On July 26, 2010, President Barack Obama issued Executive Order 13548, which stated that the federal government should be a model for hiring people with disabilities.

On Thursday, President Trump echoed a statement he released last week blasting the Federal Aviation Administration for hiring people who have "severe intellectual disabilities."

"Brilliant people have to be in those positions," President Trump said.

RELATED STORY | Champion figure skaters among those on board the plane that crashed into the Potomac

According to the FAA, a person with severe intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities is eligible for non-competitive appointments to FAA positions if they can provide documentation that they are "physically qualified to do the work without hazard to self or to others."

Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg responded to Trump's claims on Thursday.

Despicable. As families grieve, Trump should be leading, not lying. We put safety first, drove down close calls, grew Air Traffic Control, and had zero commercial airline crash fatalities out of millions of flights on our watch. President Trump now oversees the military and the Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) January 30, 2025

Also during Trump's first term, the FAA announced a pilot program to help prepare people with disabilities for careers in air traffic operations.

"The candidates in this program will receive the same rigorous consideration in terms of aptitude, medical, and security qualifications as those individuals considered for a standard public opening for air traffic controller jobs. Participants in the program will receive up to one year of experience in an Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) with the potential to be appointed to a temporary ATCS position at the FAA Academy," the FAA said in 2019.

Michigan priest has license revoked by church after mimicking Musk's straight-arm gesture

A Michigan priest had his license revoked by the Anglican Catholic Church after he mimicked a straight-arm gesture performed by Elon Musk during a speech earlier this month that some have interpreted as a Nazi salute.

Calvin Robinson, who is listed as the priest-in-charge of St. Pauls Anglican Catholic Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, performed the gesture at the end of a Jan. 25 speech at the National Pro-Life Summit in Washington, D.C.

On Wednesday, the Anglican Catholic Church posted a statement that said Robinson's license in this Church has been revoked after he made a gesture that many have interpreted as a pro-Nazi salute.

While we cannot say what was in Mr. Robinsons heart when he did this, his action appears to have been an attempt to curry favor with certain elements of the American political right by provoking its opposition, the statement read.

We believe that those who mimic the Nazi salute, even as a joke or an attempt to troll their opponents, trivialize the horror of the Holocaust, it continued.

Musks gesture that Robinson was mimicking came in a Jan. 20 speech during celebrations of Donald Trump's presidential inauguration. Musk slapped his hand on his chest, extended his arm straight out and up with his palm facing down and said, My heart goes out to you.

At the close of Robinson's Jan. 25 speech, he quoted Musk, saying my heart goes out to you, before mimicking his straight-arm motion.

In a statement posted to his Facebook page, Robinson said in case it needs saying: I am not a Nazi, and that the gesture was a joke.

Robinson is from England and in the past has been outspoken about his conservative views, according to a biography on St. Pauls Anglican Catholic Church's website.

Ground stop lifted at Reagan National Airport following deadly multi-craft crash

A ground stop put in place at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, has been lifted following a deadly overnight multi-aircraft crash.

Takeoffs and landings resumed Thursday morning at the airport, though travelers have been advised to expect delays.

The mid-air collision involved a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter conducting a training flight and a regional American Airlines flight originating from Wichita, Kansas which ultimately crashed in the nearby Potomac River.

RELATED STORY | Champion figure skaters among those on board the plane that crashed into the Potomac

American Airlines CEO Robert Isom said 60 passengers and four crew members were on the plane. At least three people were in the Black Hawk helicopter.

All passengers involved have been presumed dead.

Trump administration officials confirmed at least 30 bodies had been recovered as of Thursday morning as a recovery mission remained active.

Multiple investigations are underway in attempt to understand what actions were taken leading up to the fatal collision. But aviation experts say this is not the sort of crash that would typically take an extended period of time to comprehend considering it was a passenger plane on a very familiar landing path and a military helicopter in an area where drills are often conducted.

RELATED STORY | Army crew involved in mid-air collision with jet was 'fairly experienced'

Airport communications obtained by Scripps News from the time of the collision indicate that air traffic control did ask the military helicopter whether it saw the plane in sight. We did not hear the cockpit respond with a clear "yes" or "no."

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said that it was a clear night and both the jet and helicopter were in a "standard flight pattern" at the time of the crash. Duffy added he believes the incident could have been prevented, but expressed confidence in flight safety and said the investigation is ongoing.

Gabbard advocates for reform amid allegations of weaponization in intelligence community

Former U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard faced the Senate Intelligence Committee as she seeks to be confirmed as President Donald Trump's director of national intelligence.

She was among three of President Trump's nominees to face Senate questioning on Thursday, all of whom could face significant Democratic opposition. The others who went before Senate committees were secretary of Health and Human Services nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Kash Patel, President Trump's pick to lead the Federal Bureau of Investigations.

One thing both Gabbard and Kennedy have in common is that they are former Democratic Party candidates for president. Gabbard vied for the Democratic nomination in 2020, and Kennedy ran for president as a Democrat in 2024 before becoming an independent.

RELATED STORY | Former congressman Lee Zeldin confirmed to lead Environmental Protection Agency

In her testimony, she accused the intelligence community of being "weaponized" against political opponents. She claimed that she was among those targeted by the intelligence community after she said she was placed on a terror watch list within 24 hours of criticizing the nomination of 2024 Democratic Party presidential candidate Kamala Harris.

The New York Times reported that intelligence officials briefly subjected her to special scrutiny on airline flights after she attended an event at the Vatican organized by a European businessman who appeared on an FBI watch list.

"President Trumps reelection is a clear mandate from the American people to break this cycle of failure, end the weaponization/politicization of the intelligence community, and begin to restore trust in those who have been charged with the critical task of securing our nation," she said.

Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Arkansas, said that her background checks showed that she was "clean as a whistle."

"I suspect some of my Republican colleagues might disagree with some of Ms. Gabbard's votes in the House of Representatives," Cotton said. "Just as I suspect that some of my Democratic colleagues might criticize Ms. Gabbard's statements and actions since she saw the light and left the Democratic Party. But I sincerely hope that no one today will impugn Ms. Gabbert's patriotism and integrity."

Democrats focused some of their questions on surveillance programs. She also faced questioning from Republican Sen. James Lankford on whether she thinks Edward Snowden is a "traitor."

"Was he a traitor at the time when he took America's secrets, released them in public, and then ran to China and became a Russian citizen?" Lankford asked.

"Senator, I'm focused on the future and how we can prevent something like this from happening again," Gabbard responded.

Gabbard also vowed to "assess the global threat environment" after so-called failures, including the October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attack, the takeover of Syria, and failures to identify the source of COVID-19.

RELATED STORY | Trump administration rescinds memo on federal funding freeze for grants, loans

"I will assess the global threat environment and where gaps in our intelligence exist, integrate intelligence elements and increase information sharing, and ensure unbiased, apolitical, objective collection and analysis to support the president and policymakers decision-making," she said.

But some Democrats have expressed concern that she does not have the requisite experience to lead national intelligence. While many past directors of national intelligence had political experience, many of them also had experience in diplomacy or national security.

Gabbard served in the National Guard and later was on the House Committee on Homeland Security for one term. She also served on the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

As director of national intelligence, she would play a key role in national security for the White House. Her agency is tasked with preparing the president's daily briefing and overseeing the National Security Council and the Homeland Security Council for intelligence matters related to national security.

Her confirmation requires a majority of 100 senators. There are 53 Republicans in the Senate.

Detroit woman waiting to take off from Reagan when crash happened shares her experience

A Detroit woman was set to fly out of Reagan National Airport on Wednesday night but had her flight canceled after the deadly collision between an American Airlines jet and a U.S. Army helicopter.

All 64 people on board the jet are feared dead and emergency crews are still working on a recovery operation in the Potomac River after the crash on Wednesday night.

Related Video: What we're learning about the mid-air collision outside Reagan National Airport What we're learning about the mid-air collision outside of Reagan National Airport

We caught up with Bennita Rogers on Thursday morning at Detroit Metro Airport after her flight from Washington D.C.

She was in a plane waiting to take off when the midair collision occurred. She should have taken off just before 9 p.m. That's when she started seeing flashing lights swarming the tarmac.

Interview: Detroit woman waiting to take off from Reagan when crash happened shares her experience Detroit woman waiting to take off from Reagan when crash happened shares her experience

"A few ambulances and emergency vehicles at first, and then more and more and then we taxied back to the gate," she told us. "A little nervous this morning flying out, a lot of nerves. Were on a small plane."

Rogers' flight was one of 19 diverted from Reagan National to Dulles, and the closure of Reagan National Airport canceled about a dozen flights between the airport and DTW on Thursday morning.

The first flight out of DTW to Reagn took off around 10:20 a.m.

How to contact American Airlines if you had loved ones on deadly plane crash near Washington

Officials said they do not believe anyone survived a tragic and shocking crash between an American Airlines passenger jet and a Black Hawk military helicopter that happened late Wednesday night over the Potomac River near Reagan National Airport.

There were 60 passengers and four crew members on the regional jet, which officials said was American Eagle Flight 5342 landing at the airport after departing Wichita, Kansas. There were three servicemembers on the military helicopter out of Davison Army Airfield, Fort Belvoir.

American Airlines has said anyone who believes their loved ones were on board Flight 5342 can call toll-free at 1-800-679-8215 for information.

"Those calling from outside the U.S. can visit news.aa.com for additional phone numbers. Family members in Canada, Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands can call 800-679-8215 directly," the airline said.

RELATED STORY | Champion figure skaters among those on board the plane that crashed into the Potomac

During a press conference Thursday morning, D.C. Fire and EMS Chief John A. Donnelly said they had pulled nearly half of the bodies from the crash scene in the water.

American Airlines CEO said in a video statement, "This is a difficult day for all of us at American Airlines and our efforts now are focused entirely on the needs of our passengers, crewmembers, partners, first responders along with their families and loved ones."

Army crew involved in mid-air collision with jet was 'fairly experienced'

The Army Black Hawk helicopter that collided with an American Eagle passenger jet near Washington, D.C., was conducting an "annual proficiency training flight, according to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

"It was a fairly experienced crew that was doing an annual night evaluation," Hegseth said in a statement on Thursday.

He added later that the crew included a captain, a staff sergeant and chief warrant officer 2.

RELATED STORY | No survivors found after Army helicopter collides with passenger jet near DC

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said that it was a clear night and both the jet and helicopter were in a "standard flight pattern" at the time of the crash. Duffy added he believes the incident could have been prevented, but expressed confidence in flight safety.

The Sikorsky UH-60 helicopter was part of the 12th Aviation Battalion at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. This type of aircraft has been in military use since the 1970s and is capable of carrying a crew of four, plus 11 fully equipped service members.

Three soldiers, whom Hegseth said were equipped with night-vision goggles, were on board the aircraft that crashed.

"The FAA, NTSB and the United States Army will investigate. The NTSB will lead the investigation," the Joint Task Force National Capitol Region said in a statement.

Washington, D.C., Fire Chief John A. Donnelly Sr. said in a Thursday morning news conference that officials do not believe there were any survivors from the passenger jet or the helicopter.

American Airlines CEO Robert Isom said 60 passengers and four crew members were on the plane.

New par-3 course & 27-hole putting course set to open at BOYNE this summer

The new par-3 short course and 27-hole putting course at BOYNE Golf will open this summer, according to BOYNE Golf officials.

The par-3 short course is called Doon Brae, and the Himalayan-style putting course is called Back Yaird. They will be located behind The Highlands Main Lodge and will be he 11th golf course in the BOYNE portfolio.

We first learned about plans for the short course in July 2023, and work has been going on since that announcement. It's built on an old ski hill, and its name Doon meaning going down into a valley, and Brae meaning steep bank or hillside in Scottish, fits the location.

People making reservations for the summer can add tee times on Doon Brae right now.

As far as I know, this is the first modern golf course ever built on a ski hill, said Bernie Friedrich, the director of golf course renovations and development at Boyne Resorts, said. The combination of small greens inspired by some of the great green templates from overseas with sod-faced bunkers and tight mowing patterns will be a fun, perfect add-on to the daily golf itinerary. It also provides a wonderful option for families, kids, and beginners to try golf for the first time.

Back Yaird is a 1.5-acre, 27-hole putting course that features three nine-hole combinations. It's inspired by the great putting courses like Himalayas at St. Andrews and Thistle Du at Pinehurst in North Carolina.

Ray Hearn, a Michigan native, designed the par-3 course. It measures between 678 yards and 993 yards depending on the tee. Officials say to expect a variety of lies, and it moves horizontally back and forth across the slope. Holes range from 57 yards to 134 yards.

I wanted to make sure we were creating something fun and unique without being a difficult walk, Hearn said in a statement. We also considered all the families taking their kids out to play the short course and then the putting course. Every time I visited Scotland with friends, I was always inspired by The Himalayas at St. Andrews. We just kept playing it over and over and never got bored. The Back Yaird will provide that kind of experience.

Aviation expert on deadly collision: Reagan is one of the most challenging airports in the U.S.

As we learn more about the deadly collision between an American Airlines jet and a U.S. Army helicopter outside of Reagan National Airport near Washington, we wanted to talk to an aviation expert to get his view of what happened.

Mike Hatten started as a helicopter pilot in the U.S. Army and then transferred into airline flying and flew for Continental and United Airlines for decades.

Watch Keenan Smith's interview with Hatten in the video below Aviation expert on deadly collision: Reagan is one of the most challenging airports in the U.S.

The jet with 60 passengers collided with the helicopter and everyone on board is feared dead, officials said. Crews are still searching the Potomac River, and it's expected to be the deadliest U.S. air crash in more than two decades.

Hatten said that Reagan National Airport is one of the most challenging airports in the United States.

"There are many challenges the prohibited areas, national monuments, the White House, the Capitol, the Washington Monument, the Pentagon, Mount Vernon to the south. I mean, I could go on about that. It's a very challenging environment that requires close in maneuvering to actually get on the ground to keep from violating this airspace," Hatten said.

WATCH: Officials speak after deadly plane crash outside of DC airport WATCH: Officials speak after deadly plane crash outside of DC airport

The plane was in its final approach landing at Reagan when the crash happened. Hatten said it's a typical approach to Reagan as you stay over the Potomac to avoid the prohibited areas he mentioned.

Officials say the helicopter was part of a U.S. Army training flight and had three soldiers on board. According to Hatten, he's seen military aircraft operating in that airspace several times, out of the flight path.

"Going into Reagan, it's very crowded at night. I'm sure it wasn't as crowded as it would be during the day. But now you've thrown in the additional things like nighttime wind, runway changes, things like that,"Hatten said.

7 Morning Digest: Latest on DC plane crash, introducing Smart Shopper & more stories

Here at 7 News Detroit, we want to make sure you start your day off on the right foot, informed about weather, traffic, the latest news and more. That's why we have the 7 Morning Digest, where we'll get you out the door informed and ready to go.

What's the weather for today? Metro Detroit Weather: A welcomed warm-up with some wind on the way

Today: Mostly sunny with highs near 44 Clouds increase after sunset. Winds: S 5-10 mph.

Tonight: Partly cloudy skies with colder temps falling into the low 20s. Winds: SSW 5-10 mph.

Friday: Rain to start the day. It will try try to change to snow, first north of M-59 in the morning and last around Detroit in the afternoon. Very little snow accumulation is expected. Highs will be in the mid 30s. Winds: NE at 10-15 mph.

Any traffic issues?

So far, no major traffic issues to know about. Check our live traffic map here.

The top stories to know about Fatalities reported after Army helicopter collides with passenger jet near Reagan National Airport WATCH: Officials speak after deadly plane crash outside of DC airport

Washington, D.C., Fire Chief John A. Donnelly Sr. said in a Thursday morning news conference that officials do not believe anyone survived a mid-air collision between a Black Hawk military helicopter and a regional jet approaching Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia.

The plane involved was American Eagle Flight 5342, which originated from Wichita, Kansas. American Airlines CEO Robert Isom said 60 passengers and four crew members were on the plane. At least three people were in the Black Hawk helicopter.

Donnelly said that 27 bodies were pulled from the jet and one body was recovered from the helicopter. Officials have shifted their mission from search and rescue to recovery, Donnelly said.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said that it was a clear night and both the jet and helicopter were in a "standard flight pattern" at the time of the crash.

Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas alluded to a grim situation during an early Thursday morning press conference.

"It's really hard when you lose, you know, probably over 60 Kansans simultaneously," Marshall said. "And I don't want to forget the pilots and the flight attendants who were doing their jobs and the military personnel... all those lives are so valuable.

Isom added that the aircraft was operated by PSA Airlines, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Airlines Group.

Meanwhile, the U.S. military said the Army helicopter, based in Virginia, was on a training flight with three people on board when the collision occurred.

"We can confirm that the aircraft involved in tonights incident was an Army UH-60 helicopter from Bravo Company, 12th Aviation Battalion, out of Davison Army Airfield, Fort Belvoir," said Joint Task Force-National Capital Region media chief Heather Chairez.

In response to the incident, Reagan National Airport has issued a ground stop for all arriving and departing flights. The airport said it is not expecting flights to resume until 11 a.m. at the earliest on Thursday.

Smart Shopper: How apps and digital coupons can help you save big on groceries Smart Shopper: How apps and digital coupons can help you save big on groceries

This morning, we introduced our new Smart Shopper series, featuring 7 News Detroit weekend anchor and reporter Kiara Hay. It's a series where we're monitoring grocery prices and helping you save at the grocery store.

The first thing that comes to mind when trying to save is couponing. However, searching papers and cutting out deals can be time-consuming and confusing.

But Carrie Walker, a former extreme couponer, has tips for us beginners.

My rule of thumb is, either I want to buy something that is on sale or its on sale with a coupon, she says.

I mainly use apps, digital coupons. I can probably do it in an hour, Carrie says.

And the savings can be significant.

These are normally $6.19, and this week they were 2.99. So thats definitely the time you want to stock up, Carrie told us in reference to Lay's chips.

Catholic bishops in Michigan send note urging support for immigrant families Catholic bishops in Michigan send note urging support for immigrant families

On Monday, Catholic bishops from across Michigan sent out a note regarding their stance on immigration and a call to action to politicians.

For us, its not about politics. Its the humanitarian dimension, said Monsignor Charles Kosanke, a minister at Basilica of Sainte Anne.

Kosanke is a priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit.

He says supporting immigrants and refugees is rooted in the Catholic faith and thats why its so important for Catholic leaders to speak on the recent events surrounding immigration.

Not to say or do anything would be tone deaf and really not living out our mission, Kosanke said.

Right next door to the Basilica of Sainte Anne is Escuela Avancemos Academy, which has many students who come from immigrant families.

Theyre scared and theyre fearful, and rightfully so because we are crossing a bridge of unknown, said Derrick Davis, an administrator at Escuela Avancemos.

Meanwhile as for Monsignor Kosanke:

Every single country does have a right to secure its borders and to prevent human trafficking, drugs coming across the border. Now when it comes to immigrants, they're human people, so they need to be treated humanly, he said.

Champion figure skaters among those on board the plane that crashed into the Potomac

The International Skating Union confirmed that several figure skaters, along with their families, friends, and coaches, were "understood" to be among those on board a jet that crashed into the Potomac River near Washington, D.C., Wednesday evening.

The flight, which American Airlines said had 60 passengers and four crew members, took off from Wichita, Kansas, and was just moments away from landing as it collided with a Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport.

Authorities believe no one survived the crash.

The International Skating Union said it was "deeply shocked" by Wednesday's crash.

"We are heartbroken to learn that figure skaters, along with their families, friends, and coaches, are understood to be among those on board," the ISU said. "Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragedy. Figure skating is more than a sportits a close-knit familyand we stand together. We remain in close contact with U.S. Figure Skating and offer our full support during this incredibly difficult time."

RELATED STORY | Fatalities reported after Army helicopter collides with passenger jet near DC

The Kremlin told the Associated Press that Russian figure skaters Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were on board the flight. The two competed in the Olympics in 1992 and 1994 and won a World Championship in 1993.

Unfortunately, we see that this sad information is being confirmed. There were other fellow citizens there. Bad news today from Washington. We are sorry and send condolences to the families and friends who lost those of our fellow citizens who died in the plane crash, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the Associated Press.

The Skating Club of Boston confirmed that six of its members, including Shishkova and Naumov, were on board the flight. Others on board included figure skater Jinna Han and her mom Jin Han, and skater Spencer Lane and his mom Christine Lane. Shishkova and Naumov served as coaches for the Skating Club of Boston.

These athletes, coaches, and family members were returning home from the National Development Camp held in conjunction with the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, U.S. Figure Skating said in a statement.

Wichita just hosted the 2025 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championship. The event served as the final qualifier for the U.S. World and World Junior Championship teams.

Ilia Malinin, who won the U.S. title at the event's finale on Sunday, reacted to the news on his Instagram account.

"I hope and pray for everyone who was on that flight is ok," he said. "God bless."

Do you remember the last time you wrote in cursive? Should everyone know how?

Do you remember the last time you wrote in cursive? Do you still know how to read it? If so, the National Archives is looking for your help.

They are looking for thousands of volunteers who can read it in order to transcribe historical documents. The problem is, using and reading cursive is turning into a lost art. We spoke to Metro Detroiters to see how often they write in cursive, and put them to the test.

"The last time I wrote in cursive was the other day when i signed a check," said Detroiter Shabalis Johnson.

"Signing my name," said Rennee Peterson. "When I'm writing really fast or shorthand."

"Only when I need to sign a check," said Victoria Myles.

From the United States Constitution to the Bill of Rights, many historical documents are written in cursive. But as we continue into the digital age and use computers and our phones for taking notes or even writing a letter electronically, reading and writing cursive is becoming an art of the past and people are having a hard time even reading it.

"Writing makes your area brain fire," said Calligrapher Julie Fournier. "Whereas typing on a key board it's silent and shrinking."

Fournier is an artist and professional calligrapher. From pin-striping cars to personalized wedding invitations, you can say she's a Connoisseur of cursive.

"That's how people used to write," Julie said. "It's faster. It's easier when you know how to do it. Printing is slower even the key board you can write a lot faster."

That's why the National Archives need help from nearly 5,000 volunteers who can read historical documents written in cursive so they can transcribe nearly 300 million digitized objects within their system. The documents range from Civil War field notes to immigration documents of the 1890's, but you have to know how to read cursive.

"That's why the national archives (are) having trouble I encountered when I was trying to decipher documents someone had mistranscribed it and turned an h into an s and l because somebody couldn't read it properly," Julie said.

"My teachers would probably be very upset because that's all I was taught to do in elementary school," Shabalis said.

"I still have a few friends that's their natural way of writing out things but as far as myself using it you might be right about the third grade," Victoria said.

But I wanted to know if people still use cursive at all. I asked the people I interviewed to write 'Good Morning Detroit' in cursive, and pretty much everyone passed with an A.

"I miss it sometimes so I think I am going to write in cursive a little bit more," Shabalis said.

Where Your Voice Matters

Hamas frees 8 more hostages as Gaza truce holds. Israel is set to release 110 prisoners

Hamas-led militants freed eight hostages on Thursday in the latest release since a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip took hold earlier this month. Israel was expected to release another 110 Palestinian prisoners.

The release was delayed by a chaotic scene in which a crowd of Palestinians surrounded and jeered at hostages as they were turned over to the Red Cross.

The truce is aimed at winding down the deadliest and most destructive war ever fought between Israel and Hamas, whose Oct. 7, 2023, attack into Israel sparked the fighting. It has held despite a dispute earlier this week over the sequence in which the hostages were released.

The first hostage, female Israeli soldier Agam Berger, was released in northern Gaza. Hours later, a chaotic scene unfolded as thousands of people pressed around a handover site in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, in front of the destroyed home of slain Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.

RELATED STORY | Israel's Netanyahu accepts Trump's invite to meet at White House next week

Footage showed Arbel Yehoud, a 29-year-old hostage, looking stunned as she was led through the crowd by militants toward waiting Red Cross vehicles.

Hundreds of militants from Hamas and the smaller Islamic Jihad group arrived with a convoy in a show of force, and thousands of people gathered to watch, some from the tilted rooftops of bombed-out buildings. Many in the crowd shouted and surrounded Yehoud as masked militants pushed people away and escorted her through.

Red Cross vehicles were then delayed as they tried to drive away. The Israeli army later announced the Red Cross had confirmed it had the freed hostages. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the shocking scene" and called on international mediators to prevent similar events in the future.

Hamas had earlier handed Berger, 20, to the Red Cross after parading her in front of a crowd in the heavily destroyed urban refugee camp of Jabaliya in northern Gaza. The Israeli government later release footage of Berger hugging and crying with her parents.

Berger was among five young, female soldiers abducted in the Oct. 7 attack. The other four were released on Saturday.

People cheered, clapped and whistled at a square in Tel Aviv where supporters of the hostages watched Bergers handover on big screens next to a large clock thats counted the days the hostages have been in captivity. Some held signs saying: Agam were waiting for you at home.

The other two Israelis released Thursday are Yehoud and Gadi Moses, an 80-year-old man. Five Thai nationals were freed, but were not been officially identified.

A number of foreign workers were taken captive along with dozens of Israeli civilians and soldiers during Hamas' attack. Twenty-three Thais were among more than 100 hostages released during a weeklong ceasefire in November 2023. Israel says eight Thais remain in captivity, two of whom are believed to be dead.

RELATED STORY | 22 killed in Lebanon as Israeli forces remain after a withdrawal deadline

Of the people set to be released from prisons in Israel, 30 are serving life sentences after being convicted of deadly attacks against Israelis. Zakaria Zubeidi, a prominent former militant leader and theater director who took part in a dramatic jailbreak in 2021 before being rearrested days later, is also among those set to be released.

Israel said Yehoud was supposed to have been freed Saturday and delayed the opening of crossings to northern Gaza when she was not.

The United States, Egypt and Qatar, which brokered the ceasefire after a year of tough negotiations, resolved the dispute with an agreement that Yehoud would be released Thursday. Another three hostages, all men, are set to be freed Saturday along with dozens more Palestinian prisoners.

On Monday, Israel began allowing Palestinians to return to northern Gaza, the most heavily destroyed part of the territory, and hundreds of thousands streamed back. Many found only mounds of rubble where their homes had been.

Smart Shopper: How apps and digital coupons can help you save big on groceries

Can we get real? Groceries are so expensive; I'm talking about a 25% increase since 2019! As a family of four with two growing boys, I just want to save while I shop, and I know many of you do, too.

WATCH BELOW: How apps and digital coupons can help you save big on groceries Smart Shopper: How apps and digital coupons can help you save big on groceries

The first thing that comes to mind when trying to save is couponing. However, searching papers and cutting out deals can be time-consuming and confusing.

But Carrie Walker, a former extreme couponer, has tips for us beginners.

My rule of thumb is, either I want to buy something that is on sale or its on sale with a coupon, she says.

And finding the deals is oftentimes a click away.

I mainly use apps, digital coupons. I can probably do it in an hour, Carrie says.

And the savings can be significant.

These are normally $6.19, and this week they were 2.99. So thats definitely the time you want to stock up, Carrie told us in reference to Lay's chips.

Christine Tankersley knows a thing or two about stocking up, so much so that she donates "Baskets of Love" from her overflow to local charities.

For me, personally, as a mom of nine children, I was able to stay at home with my children and be that full-time stay-at-home mom because of couponing, Tankersley says.

Β Her advice? Search for deals in unusual places like Facebook groups or by emailing the company that makes the products because many will send back coupons.

So, the main takeaways from Carrie and Christine:

Make a grocery list Set a budget Download store apps Sift through its online coupons and deals Pair your list with discounted items and coupons Be flexible

Say I need lettuce, Carris says. What Im going to do is whats on sale? Im not just going to buy lettuce, Im going to compare prices, see if I have a coupon and then Im going to make my purchase accordingly.

So, when I wrapped up grocery shopping, it probably took me 15-20 minutes longer than normal, but I was able to save $73.05. I think thats pretty good for one of my first times.

Β I hope you come along with me on this journey. Every week, I'm going to be tracking grocery prices and sharing money-saving tips.

'It’s chilling': Oakland County sheriff leaves Reagan National Airport before midair crash

Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard returned home from a trip to Washington around the time federal authorities say a regional jet collided with a Black Hawk military helicopter near the same airport he flew out of on Wednesday.

Bouchard left Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, just one hour before midair crash. He was in Washington for a Major County Sheriffs of America meeting.

Watch our report with Sheriff Michael Bouchard in the video player below: Oakland County sheriff left Washington one hour before jet, helicopter collide

Officials say the American Airlines regional jet originating from Wichita, Kansas, was carrying 64 people on board. CNN reported that three people were on the Army helicopter that came out of Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

There was no word of casualties Wednesday night. A massive search and rescue operation including divers in the Potomac River was underway.

Bouchard joined 7 News Detroit live Wednesday night over the phone.

Well obviously, its a shock to everybody. I mean usually, you dont see a lot of midair collisions and so theres gonna be a lot of fact finding to figure this out, Bouchard said. I know in our helicopters, our police helicopters in Oakland County, when Ive been in them, it will actually give you an audible (saying) collision, collision, collision. It actually starts talking to you if it tracks that there is some anticipatory path that it sees as a collision.

Video shows officials at the airport Aircraft reported in Potomac River as Regan National Airport issues ground stop

Experts have said the crash should never have happened because warnings go out telling a pilot to rise when needed.

You got... families potentially just had their lives completely turned upside down, Bouchard said.

Bouchard said he saw a lot of air traffic and weather conditions were windy and icy.

Its terrible, especially when you think typically a midair collision is not of a high likelihood of survivors. So again, youre going to have devastated friends and family all across the country from this tragedy, Bouchard said.

Bouchard says authorities will be investigating what went wrong.

Im in a business where we see terrible tragedy and loss of life, but its a reminder how close we all are to that instance that we dont know whats coming, Bouchard said. Having flown out just before that from that very same airport, its chilling even to me to live in the world of tragedy.

❌