WASHINGTON, D.C.: An American Airlines regional jet collided midair with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter while landing at Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday night, according to the Associated Press.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that the collision occurred around 9 PM ET as the American Airlines flight 5342, which had departed from Wichita, Kansas, struck the Sikorsky H-60 Black Hawk while the helicopter was approaching the airport runway.
Passengers & Crew
According to CBS News, the flight carried 60 passengers and four crew members, while the Black Hawk had three U.S. Army soldiers onboard.
Flight data indicated a rapid loss of altitude over the Potomac River, suggesting an immediate impact.
Emergency Response & Suspended Operations
In response to the crash, Ronald Reagan Airport suspended all take-offs and landings, its operator announced on X (formerly Twitter).
Rescue teams, including the D.C. Fire Department, police officials, and the U.S. Coast Guard, launched a search and recovery operation near the Potomac River. According to The Washington Post, multiple bodies have been pulled from the water, though the exact number of casualties remains unclear.
Official Statements
The Pentagon confirmed that the Army helicopter had departed from Fort Belvoir, Virginia, on a training flight.
President Donald Trump released a statement, saying,
“I have been fully briefed on the terrible accident at Reagan National Airport. May God bless their souls. Thank you to our incredible first responders. I am monitoring the situation and will provide more details as they arise.”
Newly confirmed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the Pentagon is actively monitoring the situation, while Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed he was at the FAA headquarters, closely following developments.
Senator Ted Cruz revealed that fatalities had been confirmed but did not specify how many. “While we don’t yet know how many were lost, we know there are fatalities,” Cruz posted on X.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is currently gathering more details about the crash as investigations continue.
