Fatal Collision: Passenger Jet and Army Helicopter Crash at Reagan National Airport
A devastating midair collision between American Airlines Flight 5342 and a U.S. Army Blackhawk helicopter has resulted in multiple fatalities near Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, DC. The incident occurred Wednesday evening when the passenger jet, carrying 64 people, collided with the military helicopter during its landing approach.
The commercial aircraft, a Bombardier CRJ-701 operating as American Airlines Flight 5342 from Wichita, Kansas, was approaching Runway 33 at approximately 9 p.m. EST when the collision occurred. Flight data reveals the aircraft was flying at an altitude of 400 feet and traveling at roughly 140 mph before experiencing a sudden loss of altitude over the Potomac River.
Three Army personnel were aboard the UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter, which was conducting a routine training mission from Fort Belvoir, Virginia. The collision took place in one of the nation's most closely monitored airspace regions, just over three miles south of the White House.
Air traffic control communications indicate that controllers had instructed the helicopter to pass behind the approaching commercial jet moments before the catastrophic impact. Surveillance footage from the Kennedy Center captured the tragic moment when both aircraft's lights merged into what witnesses described as a fireball.
Emergency response teams launched an extensive search-and-rescue operation in the Potomac River, where water temperatures were recorded at 36 degrees Fahrenheit. Multiple rescue boats equipped with searchlights continue to scan the area, while first responders have established light towers along the George Washington Parkway to illuminate the search zone.
The incident has prompted immediate action from federal authorities. The Federal Aviation Administration has suspended all operations at Reagan National Airport until 5 a.m. Friday. Both the Army and the Department of Defense have launched investigations into the crash, which marks the first fatal U.S. commercial airline accident since the 2009 Buffalo tragedy.
President Donald Trump has been fully briefed on the situation and expressed his condolences for the victims. The collision presents an early challenge for newly appointed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who are closely monitoring the situation from their respective departments.
This accident recalls the tragic 1982 Air Florida crash into the Potomac River, which claimed 78 lives. Reagan National Airport, favored for its proximity to downtown Washington and scenic approach offering views of national monuments, serves as a crucial transportation hub for the capital region.
Aviation safety investigators will focus on reconstructing the final moments before impact, analyzing air traffic control communications, and examining the aircraft's sudden altitude loss to determine the cause of this tragic collision.