Video captured from an EarthCam live camera captured the moment a regional plane collided in midair with a Black Hawk military helicopter while on approach to land at Reagan Washington National Airport (ABC News). YouTube Tips ⓘ
An American Eagle passenger aircraft, Flight 5342, carrying 64 people, collided midair with a US Army Black Hawk helicopter at about 8:48 p.m. ET on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, east of Reagan National Airport and southwest of the White House in Washington DC. The American Eagle flight was a Mitsubishi CRJ-701ER on approach to Reagan National Airport when the midair crash occurred, according to FAA and defense officials. The crash scene in the Potomac River is about 2.25 miles southeast of the Pentagon, and about 3.25 miles south-southwest of the US Capitol, according to the last plotted track of American Eagle Flight 5342 on FlightRadar24.
The American Eagle aircraft was possibly on approach to Runway 33.
NTSB will lead the investigation.
No survivors expected/30 bodies recovered by 7:45 AM ET.
US Figure Skating members on board.
Weather observations reported at Washington/Reagan National Airport DC at 8:52 PM: Wind NW16 G26 MPH, visibility 10 miles, , Fair/Clear Sky, Air Temp 50°F Dewpoint 19°F, RH 29%, Wind Chill 45°F, altimeter 29.9in
Reagan Washington National Airport expected re-open at 11 AM ET.
Both aircraft wreckage found in waist-deep water.
Debris carried downstream in the Potomac from crash site to the Wilson Bridge.
Initially no reports on casualties were available. A multi-agency emergency response was immediately underway in the Potomac River, where the passenger plane and helicopter fell after colliding. According to a joint Metropolitan Police Department and DC Fire and EMS, multiple calls were received for an aircraft crash above Potomac River at 8:53 p.m. ET.
DC Fire and EMS, the Metropolitan Police Department, and multiple partner agencies were coordinating a search and rescue operation in the Potomac River by 8:56 p.m. ET. The Washington DC border with Virginia is on the west bank of the Potomac River. More than a dozen agencies responded.
American Airlines Flight 5342 had 60 passengers and four crew members on board, and departed from Wichita, Kansas.
Three soldiers were on board the Black Hawk helicopter (Sikorsky UH-60), and were on a training flight with the Military District of Washington’s 12th Aviation Battalion, which provides rotary-wing movement to the Department of Defense and Congress, and is based in Fort Belvoir.
All arrivals and departures were temporarily suspended at Reagan National Airport.
At the link below:
· Granular ADS-B data for #AA5342
· Granular Mode S data for PAT25
· Details on why the helicopter was not visible on Flightradar24 (Mode S only, not enough data to calculate MLAT)
· Updates as they become available https://t.co/6mUteGPiAX pic.twitter.com/IM3NwSzZrK— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) January 30, 2025
Most tracked flights right now – 3 helicopters above the last position of flight #AA5342 pic.twitter.com/dzqdY8QbtM
— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) January 30, 2025
The FAA confirms tonight’s collision near DCA involved #AA5342 and a US military H60. The helicopter was not broadcasting ADS-B data. The last received ADS-B position from the CRJ was at 01:48 UTC.
AA5342 was en route from Wichita to Washington (DCA) and was on final approach… pic.twitter.com/2NT3LGCAlq
— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) January 30, 2025
There has been an incident at DCA airport in Washington. The airfield is currently closed until further notice. We will share more details as we learn them. https://t.co/lLXXcrHoqX pic.twitter.com/LMuR71t336
— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) January 30, 2025
^^ MOBILE? USE VOICE MIC ^^
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