By bigbreakingwire 
A tragic mid-air collision occurred near Reagan Washington National Airport on the night of January 29, 2025. An American Airlines regional jet, a PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 operating as Flight 5342 from Wichita, Kansas, collided with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter while approaching the airport around 9 p.m. local time. The impact caused both aircraft to crash into the Potomac River.
Emergency services report that the plane that crashed near a D.C. airport had 64 people on board, including four crew members. The number of people on the Black Hawk helicopter remains unknown.
NBC Affiliate: Four rescued from water after collision near Washington’s Reagan Airport.
U.S. Army reports that the Black Hawk helicopter that crashed in D.C. was carrying three soldiers.
Casualties and Rescue Efforts
Authorities have reported multiple casualties, though the exact number is still unknown. A large-scale search and rescue operation is underway, with emergency crews working in the river to locate survivors. Fireboats and first responders are actively involved in the effort.
Airport Shutdown and Investigation
Following the collision, all flights at Reagan National Airport were suspended. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched an investigation, with the NTSB taking the lead in determining the cause of the crash.
Public Reaction
Witnesses and social media users have described the crash as a “mass casualty event.” Videos and images from airport tower cameras are circulating online, showing the moment of impact. Many people are expressing their concerns and prayers for those affected.
Trump Briefed on Crash After Apparent Collision
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that Trump has been informed about the crash. Audio from the air traffic control tower at the time of the incident shows a controller asking the helicopter, “PAT25, do you see the CRJ?” referring to the passenger plane. Moments later, another pilot is heard asking, “Tower, did you see that?” right after the apparent collision.
Update
An air traffic controller reported, “I saw a fireball, and then it disappeared.”
At least two bodies have been recovered from the Potomac River after a plane crash, according to NBC sources.
Police have taken several bodies from the water, believed to be victims of the Washington plane crash, according to the Washington Post.
This is a developing story, and more details are expected as the investigation continues and rescue operations progress.
Update
At least 18 people are believed to have died in a major mid-air crash when a plane with 60 passengers and four crew members collided with an Army helicopter while landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington.
CBS reports that 18 bodies have been found in the Potomac River after the crash, with early estimates indicating there are no survivors. A large search and rescue operation is underway in the river, with emergency teams using boats and lights to look for any survivors.
Update
No survivors were reported in the mid-air collision between a U.S. helicopter and an American Airlines aircraft in Washington, D.C., according to the fire chief.
An official stated that they don’t believe there are any survivors. The Mayor of Washington, D.C. confirmed that lives were lost in the plane crash. The D.C. Fire Chief reported that 27 people were recovered from the plane, and one person from the helicopter. The Fire Chief also mentioned that the operation has switched from rescue to recovery. An airport official said the primary runway at Reagan National Airport will reopen at 11 a.m.
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