Report: DC crash first responders ‘turn to alcohol’ two years on

Published: 14:14 EDT, 14 October 2026 | Updated: 14:14 EDT, 14 October 2026

First responders who rushed to the scene of the deadly midair collision that killed 67 people in Washington, DC, have turned to alcohol and struggle to sleep two years on from the disaster, according to a new report.

More than 90 agencies responded on the evening of January 29, 2025, after American Airlines flight 5342 collided with a US Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River, killing everyone involved.

But the tragedy didn’t only affect the loved ones of those who lost their lives. It also impacted the emergency personnel who scoured the water for days trying to locate passengers and their personal belongings.

And now, nearly two years since the fatal crash, those first responders are receiving ‘critically inadequate post-incident personnel support,’ a memo written by the Arlington County Fire Department read.

The memo, first reported by WTOP, was written by a fire captain and sent to Fire Chief David Poviltz in April after more than 20 county fire department personnel took part in the multiagency response.

It detailed how rescue workers faced some of the grimmest conditions without the help and support of leadership, per the report.

‘Despite the profound trauma of spending hours in freezing conditions handling dismembered bodies, pediatric victims, and severely mutilated remains, senior officers provided virtually no meaningful support,’ the memo, also obtained by The Washington Post, read.

Since the tragedy, several Arlington County Fire Department responders have reportedly turned to alcohol, are unable to sleep through the night, and are experiencing family strain and depression, the memo said.

More than 90 agencies responded on the evening of January 29, 2025, after American Airlines flight 5342 collided with a US Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River, killing everyone involved.

The memo was written by a fire captain and sent to Fire Chief David Poviltz (pictured) in April after more than 20 county fire department personnel took part in the multiagency response.

Crew members initially took part in the department’s workers’ compensation therapy sessions, but now they have to pay out-of-pocket for continued care, according to the memo.

‘This combination of absenteeism, inadequate mental health support, lack of transparency, and failure to recognize sacrifice has deeply damaged trust and left many responders feeling abandoned by the very organization they serve,’ the notice read.

After the crash, a wellness K9 worked overnight and met with firefighters as they returned from the site, according to the memo.

Members of the department’s Peer Support Team were also in attendance that evening, it continued.

The captain also pointed to the reported absence of Arlington County Fire Department leadership personnel during and after the collision.

According to the memo, there was no deputy chief, battalion chief, or other senior officers present at the primary recovery location during the operation.

Additionally, there were only ‘limited and random’ check-ins from senior leaders after the fatal crash.

At the time, department employees chose not to come forward with their concerns because they feared potential retaliation.

Since the tragedy, several Arlington County Fire Department responders have reportedly turned to alcohol, are unable to sleep through the night, are experiencing depression, and family strain, the memo said.

It stated: ‘When members who performed one of the most traumatic duties in the department’s recent history feel they cannot speak openly without fear of professional consequences, it underscores a toxic cultural issue that must be addressed and corrected,’ per the reports.

Up until the memo came out, the public has viewed the Arlington County Fire Department’s response to the disaster as ‘effective’, and found its support of its employees ‘meaningful,’ the memo read.

‘In reality, the response was marked by significant leadership gaps, operational confusion, and a profound lack of sustained support for those who performed the most traumatic work,’ the memo stated.

Captain Jamie Jill, the public information officer for the Arlington County Fire Department, said that although the crew got some support, there are ‘two primary barriers’ that impact mental health access for first responders.

Jill said that the demand for mental health care is so high across the US, but at the same time, ‘persistently low insurance reimbursement rates have made it difficult for mental health providers to operate and rely on private insurance reimbursement as their primary source of payment,’ he said in a statement shared with the Daily Mail.

The captain applauded the emergency crews who made a huge impact that unimaginable night.

‘Arlington County Fire Department first responders performed admirably in unimaginable conditions in the aftermath of the midair collision above the Potomac River, bringing closure to the families and friends of the passengers,’ Jill stated.

The 64 passengers in the plane and three people aboard the helicopter died, marking it the deadliest domestic crash in over 20 years.

The collision took place near Ronald Regan Washington National Airport, sparking a huge fireball in the sky.

Captain Jamie Jill, the public information officer for the Arlington County Fire Department (pictured), applauded the emergency crews who made a huge impact on that unimaginable night.

It was later determined that multiple failures across different government agencies were to blame for the incident, the National Transportation Safety Board said in its final report.

The ‘probable cause’ of the accident was cited as ‘FAA’s placement of a helicopter route in close proximity to a runway approach path; their failure to regularly review and evaluate helicopter routes and available data, and their failure to act on recommendations to mitigate the risk of a midair collision.’

The collision took place near Ronald Regan Washington National Airport, sparking a huge fireball in the sky.

According to the report, blame was also placed on an ‘overreliance’ on pilots to look out for another aircraft ‘without consideration for the limitations of the see-and-avoid concept.’

Just before the crash, the helicopter crew had been warned by an air traffic controller to watch out for the plane. They also confirmed seeing it moments before they collided.

The Daily Mail contacted Chief Povlitz for comment.