Reagan Airport Collision: Passenger Jet and Army Helicopter Involved in Crash

A tragic midair collision near Washington, D.C. Wednesday evening between a regional jet and an Army helicopter has left multiple fatalities, according to sources familiar with the incident. The crash took place just over three miles south of the White House, near the Potomac River, leading to a major search and rescue operation as first responders combed the water for survivors.

The crash involved 60 passengers and four crew members aboard the commercial jet, American Airlines Flight 5342, which had been en route to Ronald Reagan National Airport from Wichita, Kansas. Three soldiers were aboard the Army helicopter, a UH-60 Blackhawk from Fort Belvoir, Virginia, which was conducting a training flight at the time.

Details surrounding the cause of the crash remain unclear, though it is known that the incident took place around 9 p.m. EST while both aircraft were preparing to land. In response to the collision, air traffic controllers halted all airport takeoffs and landings as multiple helicopters from regional law enforcement agencies flew over the site. Rescue boats were launched into the frigid waters of the Potomac, and searchlights were set up along the shore in an attempt to locate any survivors.

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President Donald Trump issued a statement expressing his sorrow, saying he had been “fully briefed on this terrible accident” and offering prayers for the victims.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that the crash occurred while American Airlines Flight 5342, a Canadian-made Bombardier CRJ-701 twin-engine jet, was in its final approach to Reagan National Airport. The aircraft, which can carry up to 70 passengers, was traveling at 140 miles per hour and around 400 feet in altitude when it experienced a rapid loss of altitude over the Potomac River.

Just moments before the crash, air traffic controllers had directed the commercial jet to land on the shorter Runway 33, which it had adjusted its approach for. Less than 30 seconds before the collision, an air traffic controller asked the Army helicopter if it had the approaching jet in sight. The controller then instructed the helicopter to pass behind the jet before the two aircraft collided.

Flight tracking data showed that the jet’s radio transponder stopped transmitting approximately 2,400 feet from the runway, over the middle of the Potomac River. The collision resulted in a fireball visible from a nearby observation camera at the Kennedy Center.

The weather on the night of the crash was relatively mild, with temperatures in Washington hovering around 60 degrees Fahrenheit. However, the Potomac River was much colder, registering at 36 degrees Fahrenheit. Wind gusts of up to 25 mph were also reported, which could have contributed to the difficulty of the situation.

The helicopter involved in the crash, a UH-60 Blackhawk, is frequently used for military training in the densely regulated airspace around the nation’s capital. The crash has prompted an investigation by the Department of Defense, led by newly sworn-in Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, while Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is closely monitoring the situation.

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The airport was closed for operations overnight, with an expected reopening time of 5 a.m. Friday. Reagan National Airport, which offers close access to the city, is one of the most popular choices for travelers visiting Washington, D.C. due to its proximity to landmarks such as the Washington Monument and the U.S. Capitol.

This tragic event brings to mind the infamous crash of an Air Florida flight into the Potomac River in January 1982, which killed 78 people. That crash was attributed to inclement weather, while this incident remains under investigation.

The most recent fatal crash involving a U.S. commercial airline occurred in 2009 near Buffalo, New York, when a Bombardier DHC-8 propeller plane crashed, killing all 50 people on board. Investigators later determined the pilot’s error led to the crash.

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