A view of the emergency intervention looking at Arlington, Virginia, south of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, through the Potomac river to the Columbia district, Wednesday, January 29, 2025.
Alex Brandon | AP
A American airlines Regional jet with 64 people on board collided With a Black Hawk military helicopter for a few moments before the plane prepares to land it at Ronald Reagan Washington DC National Airport on Wednesday evening, the Federal Aviation Administration said. The accident seemed to be the worst air disaster in the United States in more than 15 years.
American Eagle Flight 5342, a regional airliner of PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700, was approaching track 33 of the airport when he collided with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter around 9 pm, said the FAA. The flight arrived from Wichita, Kansas and flew at an altitude of about 300 feet at the time of the collision, according to Flightradar24.
PSA Airlines is a subsidiary of American Airlines and one of its regional carriers. American Eagle is the way the airline marks its regional flights.
The American CEO Robert Isom, said on Wednesday evening in a video message he would go to Washington DC with a “Go team” from the airline.
Sixty passengers and four crew members were aboard the American flight, said the airline.
“Our concern is for passengers and the crew aboard the plane,” said American in a statement. “We are in contact with the authorities and we help in emergency intervention efforts.”
The airline provided contact information If “you believe you can have dear beings aboard flight 5342.”
Reagan Washington National was closed on Wednesday until 11 a.m. HE Thursday. The airport claims that its main track is the busiest in the country.
An information screen in the Reagan National Airport claim area for emergency instructions after an airplane crashed in the Potomac river outside Washington, DC, 29 January 2025.
Ulysse Bellier | AFP | Getty images
Transport Secretary Sean Duffy, who was sworn in on Tuesday, during a press conference called the “tragedy” accident.
The two planes were in the cold waters of the potomac, and the rescuers were faced with difficult conditions like a strong wind.
The US military confirmed that the second plane was an army helicopter outside of very Belvoir, Virginia, saying in a statement: “We work with local officials and will provide additional information once it is available. “”
An American military official later added that the helicopter was on a “training flight”.
The officials refused to face the losses at the press conference, which took place in the early hours of Thursday morning. NBC News4 in Washington reported that the rescuers drew river bodies in the hours that followed the accident, citing two sources near the investigation.
“Although we do not yet know how much on board have been lost, we know that there are deaths,” said senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who directs the Senate Commerce Committee, Sciences and transport, which includes aviation, X.
The United States had a long period without accidents from the deadly commercial airline. The last accident of the American commercial airline took place in February 2009 when the Continental flight 3407 crashed into a house when it arrived in Buffalo, New York, killing the 49 people on board and a person on the ground .
The accident of this turbopropulse plane caused federal regulations requiring more rest and training for pilots.
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating on Wednesday’s incident.
A view of the emergency intervention looking at Arlington, Virginia, south of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, through the Potomac river to the Columbia district, Wednesday, January 29, 2025.
Alex Brandon | AP
President Donald Trump said he was informed of the accident on Wednesday.
“Thank you for the incredible work accomplished by our first speakers,” he said in a statement.
The Federal Aviation Administration has no permanent head. Former administrator Mike Whitaker resigned on January 20 when Trump took office. Trump has not yet named nominated.
“We are shocked and saddened by the tragic accident in DCA tonight,” said the Air Line Pilots Association, a pilot union. “Our reflections concern people affected by this tragedy and the Alpa accident investigation team responds to help the National Transportation Safety Board in their investigation.”
This story is developing. Please check the updates.
