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From the Associated Press: A jet carrying 60 passengers and four crew members collided Wednesday with an Army helicopter while landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington, prompting a large search-and-rescue operation in the nearby Potomac River. There were multiple fatalities, according to a person familiar with the matter, but the precise number of victims was unclear as rescue crews hunted for any survivors.
Three soldiers were onboard the helicopter, an Army official said. There was no immediate word on the cause of the collision, but all takeoffs and landings from the airport were halted while helicopters from law enforcement agencies across the region flew over the scene. Inflatable rescue boats were launched into the Potomac River from a point along the George Washington Parkway, just north of the airport, and first responders set up light towers from the shore to illuminate the area near the collision site. At least a half-dozen boats are scanning the water using search lights..
The Federal Aviation Administration said the midair crash occurred around 9 p.m. EST when a regional jet that had departed from Wichita, Kansas, collided with a military helicopter on a training flight while on approach to an airport runway. It occurred in some of the most tightly controlled and monitored airspace in the world, just over three miles south of the White House and the Capitol.
The passenger jet was operating as American Airlines Flight 5342. Both the airplane and the helicopter fell from the sky into the Potomac River. The plane reportedly broke in two and landed in about 7 feet of water.
According to reports heard from rescue scanners, as of midnight Wednesday, at least 19 bodies had been found, and all on board both the plane and the helicopter are feared dead.
All flights in and out of the Reagan National Airport have now been cancelled until at least 11:00 am on Thursday, according to officials speaking at a press conference Wednesday night.
The moment of the horrific mid-air crash was captured by a webcam at the Kennedy Center.
Webcam at the Kennedy Center caught an explosion mid-air across the Potomac. https://t.co/v75sxitpH6 pic.twitter.com/HInYdhBYs5
— Alejandro Alvarez (@aletweetsnews) January 30, 2025
The crash was also captured from an airport surveillance video:
A dashcam video from a car driving toward the airport also captured the moment of impact:
President Donald Trump released the following statement after the horrific crash:
“I have been fully briefed on the terrible accident which just took place at Reagan National Airport. May God Bless their souls. Thank you for the incredible work being done by our first responders. I am monitoring the situation and will provide more details as they arise.”
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) January 30, 2025
On his Truth Social account, Trump added additional statements:
The airplane was on a perfect and routine line of approach to the airport. The helicopter was going straight at the airplane for an extended period of time. It is a CLEAR NIGHT, the lights on the plane were blazing, why didn’t the helicopter go up or down, or turn. Why didn’t the control tower tell the helicopter what to do instead of asking if they saw the plane. This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented. NOT GOOD!!!
What a terrible night this has been. God bless you all!
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who was just sworn into office earlier on Wednesday, joined Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and other officials for a press briefing at the airport Wednesday night.
Also speaking at the press conference were Republican Senators Dr. Roger Marshall and Jerry Moran, both from Kansas.
Audio between PAT25 and DCA tower asking if they have the CRJ in sight. Affirms and requests visual separation. pic.twitter.com/6VAxx9zmv5
— NOVA Scanner Updates (@NOVAScanner) January 30, 2025
I have directed @USDOT and @FAANews to provide full support to the @NTSB and all responding agencies and authorities.
— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) January 30, 2025
We are deploying every available US Coast Guard resource for search and rescue efforts in this horrific incident at DCA. We are actively monitoring the situation & stand ready to support local responders.
Praying for the victims and first responders.
— Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) January 30, 2025
Latest below. Absolutely tragic. Search and rescue efforts still ongoing. Prayers for all impacted souls, and their families.
Investigation launched immediately by Army & DoD. pic.twitter.com/WdUnYV4UJz
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) January 30, 2025
For more information, visit https://t.co/ECDOdj1kdr. pic.twitter.com/Z5vWq4vUJ2
— The FAA ✈️ (@FAANews) January 30, 2025
We’re aware of reports that American Eagle flight 5342, operated by PSA, with service from Wichita, Kansas (ICT) to Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA) has been involved in an incident. We will provide information as it becomes available.
— americanair (@AmericanAir) January 30, 2025
READ MORE from the Associated Press.
The Army helicopter that collided with a passenger jet near DC’s Reagan National Airport was on a training flight, official says. Follow AP’s live coverage. https://t.co/21jpf90p1U
— The Associated Press (@AP) January 30, 2025
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