Washington: A tragic mid-air collision between an American Airlines passenger plane and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Ronald Reagan National Airport has resulted in multiple fatalities, with the aircraft crashing into the Potomac River.
According to reports, rescue teams have recovered 18 bodies from the river, though no survivors have been found yet.
Senator Ted Cruz of Texas confirmed fatalities in a social media post but did not specify the number of victims.
The airline identified the aircraft as American Airlines flight 5342, a PSA Airlines-operated CRJ-700 regional jet, which was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members. The Black Hawk helicopter, a UH-60 from the U.S. Army, had three military personnel on board conducting a training mission.
All takeoffs and landings at Reagan National Airport have been suspended following the crash.
The U.S. Army confirmed that the helicopter departed from Fort Belvoir, Virginia. "We can confirm that an Army UH-60 helicopter was involved in tonight’s incident. We are working closely with local authorities and will provide additional information as it becomes available," the Army said in a statement.
Video footage from a webcam at the Kennedy Center captured an explosion in the sky over the Potomac River at approximately 9:47 PM local time.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stated that the PSA Airlines-operated CRJ-700 jet was en route from Wichita, Kansas, to Washington when it collided with the helicopter near Reagan National Airport.
Emergency response teams, including police officers, ambulances, and rescue boats, rushed to the crash site along the river. Live footage showed multiple boats in the water, flashing blue and red lights as they conducted search and rescue operations.
Eyewitness Ari Schulman described the incident as resembling a "massive firework display." He recounted, "At first, the plane looked normal, but suddenly, it started descending. Within three seconds, it went down, with bright yellow sparks trailing behind it, almost like a candle burning out."
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation into the crash.
This marks the first fatal U.S. commercial airline crash since February 2009, when Colgan Air Flight 3407 crashed in New York, killing all 49 people on board.
Concerns over aviation safety and air traffic control operations in the U.S. have been rising over the past two years.
The FAA has been facing leadership challenges, with Administrator Mike Whitaker resigning on January 20. The Trump administration has yet to announce a replacement or interim leadership for the agency.
American Airlines confirmed via social media that it is aware of the crash involving PSA Airlines’ American Eagle flight 5342 and is closely monitoring the situation.
