On January 30, 2025, an American Eagle Bombardier CRJ-700 crashed into the Potomac River after colliding with an army helicopter near Washington Reagan National Airport.
The CRJ-700, owned by PSA Airlines, bearing registration N709PS was operating American Eagle flight AA5342 from Wichita, Kansas, to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) with 60 passengers and four crew members aboard.
However, at approximately 8:46 p.m. local time (01:46 UTC), while descending through roughly 200 feet above ground level (AGL) on final approach to Runway 33, the CRJ-700 collided with a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, call sign PAT25.
Flight AA5342 was originally cleared to land on Runway 01 but was redirected to Runway 33 by air traffic control, which the flight crew confirmed. Moreover, the military aircraft had reportedly departed Fort Belvoir, Virginia, on a training mission with three personnel on board, as reported by the Aviation Herald.
Search and Rescue Operation, Fatalities
A large-scale search and rescue operation has been initiated, involving approximately 300 personnel, multiple helicopters, and boats. Given the dangerously low water temperatures, experts estimated survival times between 15 to 90 minutes due to hypothermia risks. Despite extensive efforts, as of now, no survivors have been recovered, and authorities have since confirmed fatalities. The exact number of deceased remains unconfirmed.
At least 12 of the bodies have been recovered during search-and-rescue operations, NBC Washington reported, citing two sources close to the recovery efforts.
“A PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet collided in midair with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter while on approach to Runway 33 at Reagan Washington National Airport around 9 p.m. local time. The FAA and NTSB will investigate, with the NTSB leading the inquiry,” said an FAA spokesperson.
American Airlines confirmed that 60 passengers and four crew members were on board flight AA5342. Among the passengers were figure skating athletes, coaches, and family members who had been at a development camp in Wichita, U.S. Figure Skating said.
Eyewitness and ATC Reports
Eyewitnesses described a sudden burst of sparks before the jet rolled beyond 90 degrees, nearly inverted, before plunging into the river. Some accounts suggest the helicopter was difficult to see in the night sky.
A chilling radio transmission captured the moment: “Tower, did you see that?” heard at 01:46:39 UTC. The FAA tower immediately halted all departures and ordered go-arounds for incoming flights, while emergency response teams were deployed to the crash site.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigative team to determine the cause of the midair collision. Preliminary data suggests miscommunication or an unforeseen trajectory convergence could have contributed to the tragedy.
Moreover, the Army confirmed that the aircraft involved in the incident was a Black Hawk helicopter. Three people were on board, Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser said.
In the wake of the accident, Reagan National Airport was temporarily closed, with Runway 15/33 remaining shut down for further analysis. The FAA later announced that the airport would not fully reopen until 5:00 a.m. on Friday, January 31, 2025.
This is a developing story.
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