NPR News: 01-30-2025 6PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: January 30, 2025, 6 PM EST

Hosted by NPR’s Jack Spear

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Tragic Mid-Air Collision Halts Pentagon Operations

NPR News Now opened with breaking news about a devastating mid-air collision between an Army Blackhawk helicopter and an American Airlines regional jet. Defense Secretary Pete Hagseth confirmed that the helicopter was engaged in a training exercise when the accident occurred.

Jack Spear reported at [00:19] that the Pentagon has suspended related operations pending the investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), emphasizing that the cause of the crash remains undetermined and will take time to uncover. Tragically, all three individuals on the helicopter and all 64 passengers aboard the regional jet lost their lives. The search for victims continues amidst the icy waters of the Potomac River.

Passenger Reactions Highlight the Impact

At Reagan National Airport, passengers expressed their shock and fear as flights resumed after the tragedy.

• Amanda Rush shared her feelings, describing the crash as "surreal" at [01:09].
• Michael Gendt, a former pilot, echoed the sentiment, stating, "It's chilling, really," and noted his extensive experience flying the route [01:16].
• Craig Martin, another passenger, reinforced the sentiment of safety despite recent concerns, saying, "I feel safe. I feel like our airlines are safe," even amidst reports of substantial FAA budget cuts announced by President Trump, which have yet to take effect [01:41].

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Senate Health Committee Debates Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.'s Nomination

The nomination of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. for the role of the country’s top health official became a focal point of contention in the Senate Health Committee. Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana joined Democrats in expressing concerns over Kennedy's longstanding criticisms of childhood vaccinations, labeling them as ineffective and unsafe.

During the confirmation hearing at [02:32], Cassidy candidly addressed Kennedy, stating he was "struggling over whether to confirm him," highlighting the bipartisan apprehension surrounding the nomination.

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Ceasefire Deal Between Israel and Hamas Results in Prisoner Exchange

In a significant development, 110 Palestinian prisoners and detainees were released from Israeli jails in exchange for three freed Israeli hostages, as part of the ongoing ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

Reporter Kat Lansdorf detailed at [02:32] that among the released Palestinians were individuals serving life sentences for deadly attacks on Israelis. The release process was tense, with Israel delaying for several hours to ensure the situation remained controlled and chaos did not recur, following earlier tumultuous releases.

Additionally, five Thai hostages were freed, marking the third such exchange within the six-week ceasefire period. Anticipation grows as observers expect the next prisoner swap to occur this upcoming Saturday [02:32].

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M23 Rebels Assert Control in Eastern Congo’s Goma

The Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group made headlines by capturing the strategic city of Goma in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. During their first press conference post-capture, M23 leaders declared their intention to remain in control and hinted at potential expansion within the mineral-rich region.

Emmett Livingstone reported from Goma at [03:34], noting the rebels’ strong presence in the city still bearing signs of the recent conflict. The leaders accused Congo’s government of corruption and vowed to ensure fair treatment for all ethnic communities. Promises were made to restore essential services such as internet and electricity, which had been disrupted due to government negligence.

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NASA Astronauts Embark on Prolonged Mission Aboard ISS

In space news, two NASA astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) undertook their first spacewalk after nearly eight months of being stranded due to issues with Boeing's Starliner capsule. Astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore conducted maintenance tasks outside the station at [04:15], marking a significant milestone in their extended mission.

Originally slated to remain on the ISS for only a week, the mission was extended following complications with the return capsule. NASA has opted to bring the astronauts back via a SpaceX flight scheduled for late March or early April, avoiding further risks associated with Boeing's Starliner.

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Crude Oil Prices See Minor Increase

On the economic front, crude oil futures experienced a slight uptick, rising by 11 cents per barrel to close the day at $72.73 in New York [04:15]. This modest increase reflects ongoing market fluctuations influenced by global events and supply-demand dynamics.

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Conclusion

January 30, 2025, was marked by significant events ranging from tragic aviation accidents and high-stakes political nominations to crucial developments in international conflicts and space exploration. NPR News Now provided comprehensive coverage, ensuring listeners were informed about these pivotal moments shaping the world.

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This summary is based on the NPR News Now episode released on January 30, 2025. For the full broadcast and more details, please visit NPR’s official channels.

Transcript

[NPR Sponsor]

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[Jack Spear]

From NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. Following last night's crash involving an Army Blackhawk helicopter and an American Airlines regional jet, the Pentagon says it's halting. Newly confirmed Defense Secretary Pete Hagseth says the helicopter was on a training exercise when the mid air collision took place.

[NPR Sponsor]

The military does dangerous things. It does routine things on a regular basis. Tragically, last night a mistake was made.

[Jack Spear]

The cause of the crash is under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board, and the cause won't be known for some time. Officials confirmed three people aboard the helicopter, all 64 aboard the Regional jet, were killed. The search for victims of the crash continues in the icy waters of the Potomac River. NPR's Windsor Johnson Johnston spent the day at Reagan National Airport talking to passengers flying with American Airlines as flights resumed.

[Amanda Rush]

Amanda Rush was taking an American Airlines flight from Washington, D.C. to Philadelphia. She described the crash as surreal.

[Michael Gendt]

It's chilling, really, to think about and especially, I mean, I've been going to this airport, have flown that route a million times in my life.

[Amanda Rush]

American Airlines passenger Michael Gendt is a former pilot. He says incidents like this are extremely rare.

[NPR Sponsor]

I know that from an aviation perspective.

[Jack Spear]

They'Ll find solutions, implement changes to make.

[Emmett Livingstone]

Sure that doesn't happen again.

[Amanda Rush]

Passenger Craig Martin was flying to Fort Worth.

[Jack Spear]

I feel safe. I feel like our airlines are safe, even though we had substantial cuts in the FAA yesterday.

[Amanda Rush]

President Trump has announced those cuts, but they haven't taken effect yet. Windsor Johnston, NPR News, Washington.

[Jack Spear]

The nomination of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. To be the country's top health official was the focus of debate for a second straight day, this time before the Senate Health Committee. A key Republican, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, joined Democrats to raise concerns over RFK Jr. S frequent denunciations of childhood vaccinations as ineffective and unsafe. Cassidy ended the confirmation hearing telling Kennedy he was, quote, struggling over whether to confirm him. 110 Palestinian prisoners and detainees were released from Israeli jails today. It comes in exchange for three freed Israeli hostages, part of the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Pierce. Kat Lahnsdorf has more.

[Kat Lansdorf]

Among the released Palestinians are prisoners who had been serving life sentences for deadly attacks on Israelis. Most serving life sentences were deported to other countries in the region after chaotic scenes at the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza earlier in the day Israel delayed the release of Palestinians for a few hours, seeking reassurances from the mediators of the ceasefire deal that such chaos would not be repeated. Five Thai hostages were also released today. This was the third hostage for prisoner swap in a six week ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The next is expected to happen this upcoming Saturday. Kat Lansdorf, NPR News, Tel Aviv.

[Jack Spear]

You're listening to NPR. In eastern Congo, the leaders of the Rwanda backed M23 rebels held their first press conference after capturing the city of Goma. They declared they're here to stay and raise the prospects of further expanding their control of the mineral rich region. Emmett Livingstone reports from Goma.

[Emmett Livingstone]

It was the first time the residents of Goma, an important mining and transport hub in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, were being addressed by their new leaders, M23 rebel group and its political branch, the AFC. The message was loud and clear, we're here to stay. The Tutsi led rebel leaders also announced that Congo's government is corrupt and that their aim was for every ethnic community to be treated fairly. They also promised to restore Internet and electricity in the city of more than 2 million people, blaming the government for outages. The Rwanda backed M23 fighters, armed and in battle fatigues, are a strong presence across the city which still bears the signs of the recent battle. For NPR News, I'm Emmett Livingstone.

[Jack Spear]

In Goma, two NASA astronauts who've been stranded aboard the International Space Station for almost eight months took their first walk in space today. Astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore floated in space outside the station doing maintenance work. The pair were initially only expected to be at the orbiting outpost for a week when there were problems with Boeing's Starliner capsule left them stranded. After NASA decided to bring the capsule home empty rather than risk anything happening, they're expected to brought home via a SpaceX flight in late March or early April. Crude oil futures prices edged up slightly today. Oil gained 11 cents a barrel to end the session at $72.73 a barrel. In New York, I'm Jack Spear, NPR News, in Washington.

[Michael Gendt]

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