Passenger Plane Crashes Into A River In DC After Colliding With An Army Helicopter!

A passenger jet and a military helicopter collided mid-air near DC and both crashed into the Potomac River.
By Kushani Gunathilaka
January 29, 2025
7:59 GMT-0830
American Airlines plane reportedly carrying 60 passengers

On Wednesday night, a tragic mid-air collision occurred near Washington, D.C., involving a U.S. Army Black Hawk (H-60) helicopter and a PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700, operating as American Airlines Flight 5342.

The American Airlines plane reportedly carried 60 passengers and 4 crew members while the Hawk carried 3 military personnel.

The passenger jet was approaching the runway near Reagan National Airport at the time of the crash. It led to an emergency response on a massive scale and rescue efforts. So far the search and rescue efforts are grim.

Rescue operations started off with the hope of finding survivors. However, now the officials are shifting their focus towards the recovery of bodies instead. 40 bodies from the passenger plane and one body from the helicopter were recovered so far from the freezing river.

Let’s have a closer look at this developing news. (This article is being updated with live events and recent updates)

The Incident

The collision happened around 9 p.m. as the passenger jet was approaching Runway 33 at Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia. The impact between the regional jet and the military helicopter resulted in unconfirmed reports that one or both aircraft had plunged into the nearby Potomac River.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) immediately halted all flights at Reagan National, suspending both takeoffs and landings. The airport is set to reopen at 11 a.m. Thursday, as the recovery of the bodies continues. Emergency responders rushed to the scene, launching a large-scale search and rescue operation to locate potential survivors.

American Airlines’ CEO seemingly placed the blame on the helicopter.

“At this time, we don’t know why the military aircraft came into the path of the PSA aircraft.”

American Airlines’ CEO Robert Isom 

White House Response

The incident quickly drew national attention. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that President Donald Trump had been briefed on the situation. In an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, she described the event as “tragic” and confirmed that federal and local agencies were working together in the rescue efforts.

“I have been fully briefed on the terrible accident which just took place at Reagan National Airport. May God Bless their souls. Thank you for the incredible work being done by our first responders. I am monitoring the situation and will provide more details as they arise.”

President Donald Trump

Vice President JD Vance also addressed the nation, urging Americans to pray for those involved.

“Please say a prayer for everyone involved in the mid-air collision near Reagan airport this evening.

JD Vance wrote in a post on X.

Trump Says “Looks Like It Should Have Been Prevented”

Early Thursday morning, President Donald Trump commented on the mid-air collision between the U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter and American Airlines Flight 5342, questioning how such an incident could have occurred under clear conditions.

In a statement on Truth Social, Trump described the event as a “bad situation” and suggested it could have been avoided:

“The airplane was on a perfect and routine line of approach to the airport. The helicopter was going straight at the airplane for an extended period of time. It is a CLEAR NIGHT, the lights on the plane were blazing, why didn’t the helicopter go up or down, or turn? Why didn’t the control tower tell the helicopter what to do instead of asking if they saw the plane?”

He added:

“This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented. NOT GOOD!!!”

At this time, it is unclear whether Trump’s comments are based on official briefings. CNN has reached out to the White House for clarification.

More Bodies Recovered from the Potomac River

Authorities have confirmed the recovery of 40 bodies of airplane passengers and another passenger of the helicopter from the Potomac River. Authorities are now shifting from the rescue of the survivors to the recovery of the bodies.

According to a police official at the scene, who spoke with CBS News, there are at least three debris fields in the water. As of 11:30 p.m. ET, no survivors have been found.

“Eighteen bodies have been recovered so far, and no survivors have been located,” the official stated.

Image source: CNN

The Search for Survivors: Rescue Efforts in the Potomac River

Multiple agencies mobilized immediately, including:

  • DC Police
  • DC Fire & Emergency Medical Services
  • Federal aviation authorities
  • Military response teams (due to the involvement of a Black Hawk helicopter)
Image source: CNN

Search and Rescue Operations

Initial reports suggested that as many as 60 people could be in the Potomac River. First responders focused on the area near the airport and the Black Mountain Supersonic Corridor, using boats and helicopters to scan for survivors.

While authorities did not immediately confirm casualties, the priority was rescue efforts before the freezing water temperatures made survival unlikely.

Russian Figure Skating Champions and Young Skaters Among Those on Board

Renowned Russian figure skating coaches and former world champions Yevgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were among the passengers aboard American Airlines Flight 5342.

Shishkova and Naumov, who were married and longtime skating partners, won the 1994 World Championship in pairs figure skating. The couple had reportedly lived in the United States since at least 1998, coaching young skaters and shaping the next generation of athletes.

Image source: Yahoo News

Fears for Their Son and Young Skaters

Reports from Russia’s TASS and RIA news agencies indicate that their son, Maxim Naumov, was also feared to have been on board. Maxim had recently competed in the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas, which took place from January 20-26.

Shishkova and Naumov were reportedly returning from the competition with a group of young figure skaters. Russia’s Mash news outlet published a list of 13 skaters—many of them children of Russian emigres to the U.S.—who are believed to have been on the flight.

Inna Volyanskaya, a former Soviet figure skater and coach at the Washington Figure Skating Club, was also reported to have been on the flight, according to TASS.

Authorities have not yet publicly released a passenger manifest, but reports suggest that several members of the figure skating community may have been among the victims.

Statements from Officials

Several lawmakers responded to the tragedy, as the flight originated from Wichita, Kansas.

Sen. Jerry Moran (Kansas) posted on X:

“Learning that a plane inbound from Kansas was involved in a crash at DCA. I am in contact with authorities. Please join me in praying for all involved.”

Sen. Roger Marshall (Kansas) echoed the same concerns:

“I’ve seen the reports of a collision with a D.C. helicopter and an inbound flight from Wichita. We are in contact with authorities working to get answers. We ask you to join us in prayer for every single passenger and their families.”

What Caused the Collision?

With such a severe incident, many questions remain unanswered.

FAA and NTSB Lead Investigation

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will lead the investigation into the cause of the crash, with the FAA assisting.

Key questions being examined:

  • How did two aircraft end up in the same airspace?
  • Was there a miscommunication between air traffic control and the pilots?
  • Did the weather play a role? (Initial reports did not indicate storms or low visibility.)
  • Could a technical failure have contributed to the crash?

Officials have stated they will provide updates as new information comes in.

Air Traffic Audio Reveals Moments Before and After Deadly Collision

Newly obtained air traffic control audio from LiveATC.net sheds light on the moments leading up to, during, and after the mid-air collision near Reagan National Airport. The recording captures critical exchanges between air traffic controllers and the pilots just before the impact.

In the moments before the crash, a controller can be heard asking the Black Hawk helicopter pilot if they had visual contact with the PSA Airlines CRJ700:

“PAT 2-5, do you have the CRJ in sight?”

The controller then directs the helicopter:

“PAT 2-5, pass behind the CRJ.”

Seconds later, the collision occurs, and gasps and a loud “oooh” can be heard in the background—seemingly from the air traffic control tower.

Controllers Alert Other Pilots

Immediately after the crash, the tower notified another pilot about the situation:

“I don’t know if you caught earlier what happened, but there was a collision on the approach end of 3-3. We are going to be shutting down operations for the indefinite future. If you want to go back to the gate, I highly suggest you guys coordinate with the company. Let me know what you want to do.”

Eyewitness Pilot Confirms the Crash

Another pilot, who was approaching the runway, witnessed the accident and reported it to air traffic control:

“Yeah, we were on short final, and we saw flares from the opposite side of the Potomac.”

An approach controller later confirmed the worst-case scenario:

“Apparently both aircraft involved are in the river, a search and rescue will be ongoing.”

Following the incident, several aircraft diverted to alternative airports, as Reagan National Airport suspended all flights indefinitely.

American Airlines Issues Hotline for Families of Flight 5342 Passengers

As the investigation and rescue efforts continue, American Airlines has set up a dedicated hotline for families of passengers who were on board Flight 5342, which collided mid-air with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport.

In an official statement, the airline urged concerned relatives to reach out for assistance:

“If you believe you may have loved ones on board Flight 5342, call American Airlines toll-free at 800-679-8215.”

For those calling from outside the U.S., American Airlines has provided additional contact numbers at news.aa.com. Family members in Canada, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands can also call 800-679-8215 directly for information.

The airline has assured the public that it will continue to release updates as more details become available.

Passenger’s Husband Desperately Awaits News After Mid-Air Collision

As search and rescue efforts continue in the Potomac River, Hamaad Raza, whose wife was on board Flight 5342, anxiously awaits updates, hoping for a miracle.

“I’m just praying that someone is pulling her out of the river right now as we speak,” Raza told CNN affiliate WUSA.

Raza recounted receiving a text message from his wife just before the scheduled landing.

“She texted me that they were landing in 20 minutes,” he said.

But when he tried to respond, his texts were not delivered—a moment that filled him with fear.

Authorities have not confirmed casualties yet, but families like Raza’s are left in agonizing uncertainty, waiting for any word on their loved ones.

Conclusion

Aviation safety measures have improved over the years, but this incident raises concerns about how civilian and military aircraft share airspace.

Authorities will continue their investigation, and updates will emerge in the coming days. For now, the focus remains on search and rescue efforts and providing answers to the families affected by this tragic event.

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