An American Airlines regional jet collided mid-air with a US Army helicopter and crashed into the Potomac River while landing at the Reagan National Airport near Washington on Wednesday night. 18 bodies have been recovered from the river so far, and search and rescue operations are underway.
American Airlines Jet Collides With US Army Helicopter In Washington
BREAKING: 🚨
An American Airlines flight 5342 collided with a DC police helicopter on its way to Reagan National Airport and went down into the Potomac River. Reagan National is shut down. Flight aware shows plane’s path ending at the river.
You can see the helicopter hit … pic.twitter.com/YY3MpYZ571
— Matt (@m_ttt21) January 30, 2025
According to India Today, the American Airlines jet was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members and the crash occurred around 9 PM ET. The aircraft had departed from Wichita, Kansas and smashed mid-air into the US Army Blackhawk helicopter while it was approaching the airport runway.
The Black Hawk Sikorsky H-60 was carrying three US Army soldiers. As per the statement issued by the Pentagon, it had departed from Fort Belvoir, Virginia and was on a training flight. After the collision, the American Airlines jet suffered a rapid loss of altitude over the Potomac River. The jet and helicopter collided just five kilometres south of the White House and the Capitol. This is one of the most tightly controlled and monitored airspace in the world.
In response to this fatal incident, Ronald Reagan Airport has suspended all aircraft take-offs and landings at the airfield for the time being. Video footage capturing the mid-air collision is surfacing on social media as well.
18 Dead, Search And Rescue Operation For Survivors Underway
As per the latest updates, 18 casualties have been reported after the American Airlines and the US Army helicopter collided. The bodies were recovered from the Potomac River. A search and rescue operation for survivors of the crash is underway near the river as well. The DC Fire Department, police officials, and the US Coast Guard are working together to locate the survivors.
In a statement issued by American Airlines, the airline expressed their concern “for the passengers and crew on board the aircraft.” They mentioned that they are in contact with authorities and are “assisting with emergency response efforts” as well.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is now investigating the incident and gathering more information about this unfortunate incident.
Cover Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons & X/@m_ttt21
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