Washington, D.C. (trfnews.i234.me)— A passenger jet collided midair with an Army Blackhawk helicopter Wednesday night while attempting to land at Ronald Reagan National Airport, triggering a major emergency response along the Potomac River.
Crash Details
- Time & Location: The collision occurred around 9 p.m. EST, approximately three miles south of the White House and Capitol, in one of the most tightly controlled airspaces in the world.
- Aircraft Involved:
- Passenger Jet: American Airlines Flight 5342, a Bombardier CRJ-701 twin-engine regional jet carrying up to 70 passengers, inbound from Wichita, Kansas.
- Military Helicopter: A U.S. Army Blackhawk helicopter, call sign “PAT25.”
Air Traffic Control and Last Contact
- Air traffic controllers requested the passenger jet adjust its approach to land on Runway 33 at Reagan National.
- Moments later, a controller asked the helicopter crew if they had the CRJ in sight.
- Seconds after impact, another pilot on frequency was heard saying:
“Tower, did you see that?”
- Other flights were immediately diverted from Reagan National Airport.
Rescue Efforts Underway
- Helicopters from multiple law enforcement agencies were deployed to search the Potomac River for survivors.
- Inflatable rescue boats launched from a location along George Washington Parkway, just north of the airport.
- Fireball Captured on Camera:
- A Kennedy Center observation camera captured what appeared to be two sets of lights joining into a fireball.
Federal & Military Response
- President Donald Trump was briefed on the situation.
- Vice President JD Vance urged the public to pray for those involved.
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed they are actively monitoring the situation.
- The FAA and NTSB have launched an immediate investigation into the cause of the collision.
American Airlines & Military Statements
- American Airlines acknowledged the reports, stating they are gathering information and will provide updates soon.
- The Pentagon confirmed an Army helicopter was involved but has not yet released crew status.
Historical Context: A Rare But Devastating Accident
- The incident recalls the tragic crash of Air Florida Flight 90 in 1982, which plummeted into the icy Potomac River, killing 78 people.
- The last fatal U.S. commercial airline crash occurred in 2009 near Buffalo, New York, when a Bombardier DHC-8 stalled and crashed, killing 50 people.
Ongoing Investigation & Next Steps
- FAA and military investigators are working to reconstruct the sequence of events leading to the collision.
- Authorities have not yet released information on casualties or survivor recovery efforts.
- More details will follow as search and rescue efforts continue.
I’m Chris Harper, reporting for trfnews.i234.me