An American Airlines passenger plane and a helicopter collided midair on Thursday, crashing into the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. According to media reports, rescue teams have so far recovered 19 bodies from the river.
The American Airlines Flight 5342, reportedly carrying 64 people, including passengers and crew, was en route to Reagan National when it collided with a Black Hawk helicopter that had three people on board.
Emergency response teams, including multiple fireboats, rushed to the scene as rescue operations continued. The Washington Fire Department confirmed their involvement in the rescue efforts, Reuters reported.
Fox News stated that Flight 5342, a Canadian-made Bombardier CRJ-701 twin-engine jet, was at an altitude of approximately 400 feet and traveling at 140 miles per hour when it suddenly lost altitude over the Potomac River. The aircraft, manufactured in 2004, is designed to carry up to 70 passengers.
Shortly before landing, air traffic controllers instructed the flight crew to switch to Runway 33. Flight tracking data showed the plane adjusting its approach accordingly. Moments before the collision, an air traffic controller asked the helicopter if it had the arriving plane in sight. The controller then instructed, “PAT 25 pass behind the CRJ.” Seconds later, the collision occurred, and the plane’s radio transponder ceased transmission approximately 2,400 feet short of the runway, over the river’s midpoint.
Social media videos captured the harrowing moment when the aircraft crashed into the helicopter during its descent. Another video from a different angle provided an alternative perspective of the collision.
Reagan National Airport confirmed in an X (formerly Twitter) post that all takeoffs and landings had been halted, though the terminal remained operational. “All takeoffs and landings have been halted at DCA. Emergency personnel are responding to an aircraft incident on the airfield. The terminal remains open. Will update,” the post read.
Senator Ted Cruz of Texas addressed the incident on X, stating, “I am closely monitoring the situation at DCA, and I will receive a briefing from the FAA tomorrow. While we don’t yet know how many on board were lost, we know there are fatalities.”
Additionally, the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C., confirmed their response to the crash in a separate X post, stating, “MPD is responding to an apparent air crash in the Potomac River. Multiple agencies are responding.”
As emergency teams continue rescue and recovery efforts, aviation authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the fatal collision. Further details are expected as officials provide updates on the tragic incident.
