American Airlines plane collides with military helicopter near Washington airport and crashes into Potomac river, casualties reported

A regional passenger jet from Kansas crashed into the Potomac River near Washington's Reagan National Airport after colliding mid-air with a military helicopter on Wednesday night. The incident triggered a significant emergency response and led to the grounding of all flights at the airport. CBS News reported that at least 18 bodies were recovered from the Potomac river. News agency AP citing an official said three soldiers were on board the U.S Army Blackhawk helicopter which was on a training flight. The whereabouts of the three soldiers were unknown.

President Donald Trump has been informed about the situation, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stating that it appears a military helicopter collided with the regional jet. Details regarding the number of people aboard either aircraft or potential casualties have not yet been released. The Bombardier regional jet involved can carry up to 78 passengers, while the Sikorsky H-60 helicopter, known as the Blackhawk, has a capacity for up to 15 individuals, including crew members.



In a statement late Wednesday, Trump thanked first responders for their “incredible work,” noting that he was “monitoring the situation and will provide more details as they arise.” “May God Bless their souls,” he added.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said she would be deploying all available resources from the U.S. Coast Guard for search and rescue efforts.

“We are actively monitoring the situation & stand ready to support local responders,” Noem said in a post on X.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that the midair collision occurred around 9 PM local time as the PSA Airlines flight 5342 was approaching for landing. The flight had departed from Wichita, Kansas, earlier in the evening. In response to the crash, multiple agencies, including police and fireboats, have been deployed to the Potomac River to conduct search and rescue operations under challenging conditions of darkness and near-freezing temperatures.

American Airlines acknowledged the incident involving its regional flight and stated that it would provide updates as more information becomes available. The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will lead the investigation into the crash.

The helicopter, a Black Hawk Sikorsky H-60, collided with a PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 from Wichita, Kansas that US Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas said was carrying "roughly 60 passengers."

In audio from the air traffic control tower around the time of the crash, a controller is heard asking the helicopter, “PAT25 do you have the CRJ in sight,” in reference to the passenger aircraft.

“Tower, did you see that?” another pilot is heard calling seconds after the apparent collision.”

The tower immediately began diverting other aircraft from Reagan.

Reagan Washington National a popular airport

Reagan Washington National is located along the Potomac River, just southwest of the city. It’s a popular choice because it’s much closer than the larger Dulles International Airport, which is deeper in Virginia.

Depending on the runway being used, flights into Reagan can offer passengers spectacular views of landmarks like the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, the National Mall and the U.S. Capitol. It’s a postcard-worthy welcome for tourists visiting the city.

Details on the passenger jet

American Airlines flight 5342 was inbound to Reagan National at an altitude of about 400 feet and a speed of about 140 miles per hour when it suffered a rapid loss of altitude over the Potomac River, according to data from its radio transponder.

The Canadian-made Bombardier CRJ-701 twin-engine jet was manufactured in 2004 and can be configured to carry up to 70 passengers.

The incident recalled the crash of an Air Florida flight that plummeted into the Potomac on January 13, 1982, that killed 78 people. That crash was attributed to bad weather.