WATCH: Aircraft collide in Washington, D.C., near Reagan National Airport
An American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas, collided with a military helicopter shortly before 9 p.m. Wednesday night near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, prompting an investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board.
BREAKING: American Airlines Flight 5342 from Wichita, Kansas has crashed into a helicopter while landing at Reagan National Airport near Washington, DC#potomac #PotomacRiver pic.twitter.com/Ddq1qwa25S
— AJ Huber (@Huberton) January 30, 2025
Flight 5342, which is a PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jetliner, collided with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter while the passenger jet was on approach to Runway 33 at the airport, the FAA said.
#BREAKING: The White House has confirmed a commercial airliner collided with a military helicopter while on approach to Reagan National Airport
The FAA says the helicopter was a Blackhawk. pic.twitter.com/RFUX0301UA
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) January 30, 2025
American Airlines says 60 passengers were scheduled to be on the jet. Officials on the scene indicated at least one aircraft was in the Potomac River.
BREAKING: Video shows 2 aircraft colliding over the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. pic.twitter.com/vVcyThS8Lr
— BNO News (@BNONews) January 30, 2025
The Associated Press reports: “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.”
BREAKING: PLANE COLLIDES WITH HELICOPTER AT REAGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT
A small plane reportedly crashed into a helicopter while landing at Reagan National Airport, resulting in fatalities.
A massive rescue operation is underway in the Potomac River.
Details are still… pic.twitter.com/kFUnXYpTrw
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) January 30, 2025
The disaster is reminiscent of an Air Florida crash that plunged into the Potomac on Jan. 13, 1982, killing 78 people. That crash was blamed on bad weather.
#BREAKING: A plane has crashed into a helicopter while landing at Reagan National Airport near Washington, DC
Fatalities have been reported, a MASSIVE search & rescue operation is happening in the Potomac River
Witnesses reported seeing a “massive crash” and hearing a loud… pic.twitter.com/GtSiWjUWn0
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) January 30, 2025
A Massive Emergency Response can be seen on the Bank of the Potomac River near Washington D.C. pic.twitter.com/hvLhPgNd3L
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) January 30, 2025
Vice President JD Vance posted on X: “Please say a prayer for everyone involved in the mid-air collision near Reagan airport this evening. We’re monitoring the situation, but for now let’s hope for the best.”
Please say a prayer for everyone involved in the mid-air collision near Reagan airport this evening. We’re monitoring the situation, but for now let’s hope for the best.
— JD Vance (@JDVance) January 30, 2025
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