A regional passenger jet operated by American Airlines and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter collided while landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington, D.C., according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
Aircraft Involved and Passenger Details
Kansas Senator Roger Marshall reported that the PSA Airlines regional jet, operating under American Eagle, was carrying approximately 60 passengers at the time of the incident. The Sikorsky H-60 Black Hawk helicopter had three soldiers on board. The collision led to an immediate suspension of all takeoffs and landings at the airport.
The FAA confirmed that the aircraft collided midair while approaching the airport at around 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday. The PSA Airlines jet has a seating capacity of up to 65 passengers.
Search and Rescue Efforts Underway
Following the crash, multiple agencies launched a search and rescue operation along the Potomac River, which borders the airport. Rescue boats were deployed near the George Washington Parkway, though no casualties were immediately reported.
Helicopters from U.S. Park Police, the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, and the U.S. military were seen flying over the crash site. Washington D.C. Fire and EMS also responded with fireboats.
White House Responds to the Incident
President Donald Trump was briefed on the collision, while Vice President JD Vance urged Americans on social media to “say a prayer for everyone involved.”
Air Traffic Control and Surveillance Footage Capture the Crash
Surveillance video from the Kennedy Center recorded two sets of aircraft lights merging into a fireball. Meanwhile, air traffic control audio captured a controller asking the helicopter, “PAT25, do you have the CRJ in sight?” Moments later, another pilot reported the collision, prompting air traffic controllers to divert incoming flights.
Reminiscent of the 1982 Air Florida Tragedy
The collision has drawn comparisons to the 1982 Air Florida crash, when a plane crashed into the Potomac River, killing 78 people. That incident was caused by severe winter weather.
