The Associated Press reported that a jet carrying 60 passengers and four crew members collided with an Army helicopter while landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington. This incident led to a search-and-rescue operation in the nearby Potomac River. The Federal Aviation Administration stated that the collision occurred at around 9 p.m. EST when a regional jet from Wichita, Kansas crashed into the military helicopter. There is no information on casualties at the moment. American Airlines confirmed that the flight had 60 passengers and 4 crew members on board. President Donald Trump expressed his condolences, saying, “May God Bless their souls.” Authorities have halted takeoffs and landings at the airport while helicopters and rescue boats search for survivors. The cause of the collision is still unknown. The tragic event took place in one of the most tightly controlled and monitored airspace in the world, just a little over three miles south of the White House and the Capitol.
Investigations will focus on reconstructing the final moments of the aircraft before the collision, including communication with air traffic controllers and the sudden decrease in altitude of the passenger jet.
American Airlines flight 5342 was on its way to Reagan National airport, flying at an altitude of approximately 400 feet and a speed of around 140 miles per hour when it experienced a rapid loss of altitude over the Potomac River. The Bombardier CRJ-701 twin-engine jet, manufactured in 2004, has the capacity to carry up to 70 passengers.
Moments before the crash, air traffic controllers inquired if the commercial jet could land on the shorter Runway 33 at Reagan National, to which the pilots confirmed their ability. The plane was then cleared for landing on Runway 33, with flight tracking data showing adjustments to its approach.
Shortly before the collision, an air traffic controller asked a helicopter if it had visual contact with the arriving plane. Moments later, the controller instructed the helicopter to pass behind the CRJ, leading to the tragic accident.
The tower immediately redirected other aircraft away from Reagan National following the crash.
Video footage from a nearby observation camera captured the moment of impact, showing two sets of lights resembling aircraft merging into a fireball.
The crash presents a significant challenge for two of the Trump administration’s newly appointed agency leaders. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy were both actively monitoring the situation in their respective roles.
Reagan National Airport, situated along the Potomac River, is a preferred choice due to its proximity to the city. Flights into the airport offer passengers breathtaking views of iconic landmarks like the Washington Monument and the U.S. Capitol.
The tragic incident evoked memories of the Air Florida crash in 1982, where 78 lives were lost. The last fatal crash involving a U.S. commercial airline occurred in 2009 near Buffalo, New York, resulting in the death of 50 individuals.
This report includes contributions from Associated Press writers Zeke Miller, Meg Kinnard, and Chris Megerian in Washington.
Originally Published: January 29, 2025 at 7:29 PM MST sentence in a more concise way.
