A view of emergency response looking from Arlington, Va., south of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, across the Potomac River toward the District of Columbia, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025.
Alex Brandon | AP
An American Airlines regional jet with 64 people aboard collided with a Black Hawk military helicopter near Washington, D.C.,’s Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday night, the Federal Aviation Administration said.
The PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jetliner collided with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter while the passenger jet was approaching Runway 33 at the airport around 9 p.m. ET, the FAA said. Flight 5342 was arriving from Wichita, Kansas. PSA Airlines is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Airlines.
Sixty passengers and four crew members were on board the American flight, the airline said.
“Our concern is for the passengers and crew on board the aircraft,” American said in a statement. “We are in contact with authorities and assisting with emergency response efforts.”
The airline provided contact information if “you believe you may have loved ones on board Flight 5342.”
Reagan Washington National was closed Wednesday night, the FAA said.
Local officials confirmed that at least one aircraft was in the Potomac River. Images on social media showed a large presence of emergency responders.
The U.S. Army confirmed that the second aircraft was an Army helicopter out of Fort Belvoir, Virginia, saying in a statement: “We are working with local officials and will provide additional information once it becomes available.”
It was not immediately clear if there were casualties.
The U.S. has had a long stretch without fatal commercial airline crashes. The last U.S. commercial passenger airline crash occurred in February 2009 when Continental Flight 3407 crashed into a house as it was arriving in Buffalo, New York, killing all 49 people aboard and one person on the ground.
The crash of that turboprop plane prompted federal regulations requiring more rest and training for pilots.
The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating Wednesday’s incident.
A view of emergency response looking from Arlington, Va., south of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, across the Potomac River toward the District of Columbia, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025.
Alex Brandon | AP
President Donald Trump said he was briefed on the accident Wednesday.
“Thank you for the incredible work being done by our first responders,” he said in a statement.
The Transportation Department didn’t immediately comment. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy was sworn in on Tuesday.
This is breaking news. Please check back for updates.
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