A U.S. military helicopter collided with a passenger plane mid-air near Washington, prompting an extensive search and rescue operation on the Potomac River. The crash involved a commercial aircraft and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter on Wednesday evening. The incident occurred around 9:00 PM local time as the passenger plane was attempting to land at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. According to reports, by 11:30 PM Eastern Time, at least 18 bodies had been recovered. No survivors have been found so far.
Федеральне управління цивільної авіації США (FAA) підтвердило, що літак Bombardier CRJ700 авіакомпанії PSA Airlines, що виконував рейс 5342 авіакомпанії American Airlines, наближався до злітно-посадкової смуги 33, коли він зіткнувся в повітрі з гелікоптером Sikorsky H-60. Літак вилетів з Вічіти, штат Канзас, США, з 60 пасажирами та чотирма членами екіпажу.
According to Heather Chairez, a spokesperson for the Joint Task Force – National Capital Region, the Black Hawk helicopter, based at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, was conducting a training flight at the time of the incident. The aircraft belonged to Company B of the 12th Aviation Battalion and had three soldiers on board. No high-ranking officials were present. Officials have confirmed that all flights at the airport were canceled following the collision.
A live-stream camera at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., captured an explosion over the Potomac River at 8:47 PM. The footage shows a fireball briefly illuminating the night sky.
American Airlines released a statement confirming the incident: “We are aware of reports that American Eagle Flight 5342, operating from Wichita, Kansas (ICT) to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), was involved in an incident.”
The U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure also issued a statement: “We continue to monitor this evening’s crash at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and remain in contact with the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board. As we await further details from the ongoing response efforts, our thoughts are with the passengers, crew, and their families, as well as the first responders on the scene.”
The FBI has confirmed that the incident is not currently being investigated as a criminal act. The White House responded swiftly, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stating that President Donald Trump had been briefed on the situation.
In a statement, the president expressed his condolences: “I have been fully briefed on the terrible crash that just occurred at Reagan National Airport. May God bless their souls. Thank you to our incredible first responders for their work. I am monitoring the situation and will provide further updates as they become available.”
He also described the night as “horrible” and raised concerns about whether the crash could have been prevented, questioning: “Why didn’t the helicopter climb, descend, or turn? Why didn’t the control tower tell the helicopter what to do instead of just asking if they saw the plane?”
Search and rescue operations are being coordinated by multiple agencies, including the Metropolitan Police Department, the U.S. Park Police aviation unit, and the District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services. The Pentagon has also confirmed that it is actively monitoring the situation and is prepared to provide assistance if needed.
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Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport announced on social media that all departures and arrivals have been suspended. “Emergency personnel are responding to an aircraft incident on the airfield. The terminal remains open,” the airport’s statement read.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have launched an investigation into the cause of the collision. Officials are expected to analyze flight data, radar tracking, and witness statements to determine how the tragic event unfolded.
Around 300 rescuers are currently involved in the search and rescue operation on the Potomac River, according to District of Columbia Fire Chief John A. Donnelly Sr., who spoke at a press conference at Reagan National Airport.
This marks the largest aviation disaster in the United States in the last 16 years. The last major commercial airliner crash in the U.S. occurred in February 2009, when a Continental Airlines flight departing from Newark, New Jersey, crashed into a building near the airport in Buffalo, New York. The aircraft involved was a Bombardier Q400, and the crash resulted in the deaths of 49 people.
