Tragedy Strikes Near Nation’s Capital: Mid-Air Collision Over Potomac River Leaves Multiple Dead
A devastating mid-air collision between a commercial jet and a military helicopter occurred Wednesday evening near Ronald Reagan National Airport, triggering a large-scale search and rescue operation in the frigid waters of the Potomac River, The Associated Press reports.
The incident, which involved a regional jet carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, resulted in multiple fatalities, though the exact number of victims remains unclear as rescue teams continue to search for any potential survivors.
The collision occurred shortly before 9 p.m. EST as the jet, American Airlines Flight 5342 from Wichita, Kansas, was on approach to landing. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the aircraft collided with an Army UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter carrying three soldiers, which was on a training flight in the highly regulated airspace near the nation’s capital.
The crash site is located just over three miles south of the White House and the Capitol, making it one of the most tightly monitored airspaces in the world. The FAA immediately halted all takeoffs and landings at Reagan National following the incident.
Witnesses near the Kennedy Center reported seeing a fireball erupt in the sky, with videos from observation cameras seemingly confirming the mid-air collision.
President Donald Trump said he had been “fully briefed on this terrible accident” and added, “May God Bless their souls.”
Data from the jet’s radio transponder indicated it experienced a rapid loss of altitude over the Potomac River, having been about 400 feet in the air at a speed of 140 mph. The aircraft, a Bombardier CRJ-701 twin-engine jet, was en route to Runway 33, having been cleared to land by air traffic controllers just moments before the crash. The jet’s transponder stopped transmitting about 2,400 feet short of the runway, near the center of the river.
Air traffic control recordings reveal a series of tense moments preceding the collision, with controllers asking the helicopter if it had the approaching jet in sight, and then directing the helicopter to “pass behind the CRJ,” mere seconds before impact.
The collision took place on a relatively warm winter evening, with temperatures as high as 60 degrees Fahrenheit, in contrast with a cold snap that gripped the region days prior. The Potomac River’s temperature was 36 degrees, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, with wind gusts of up to 25 mph reported by the National Weather Service.
Over 300 first responders rushed to the scene. Inflatable rescue boats were launched into the Potomac near the George Washington Parkway, where light towers were erected to illuminate the search area. Multiple boats equipped with searchlights meticulously combed the area for survivors.
The Army has confirmed the helicopter was a UH-60 Blackhawk based at Fort Belvoir in Virginia. Military aircraft frequently use the area for training flights, familiarizing pilots with the congested and restricted airspace around the capital.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced an immediate investigation by the Army and the Defense Department. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy vowed to provide all necessary resources for the investigation during a somber press conference at the airport early Thursday.
Reagan National Airport will reopen at 11 a.m. Thursday, the FAA has announced, having initially stated it would be closed until Friday morning.
Located along the Potomac River, Reagan National is a popular choice for flights into Washington due to its close proximity to the city. Flights landing at Reagan often provide spectacular views of landmarks such as the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, and the US Capitol.
The incident is reminiscent of the 1982 crash of an Air Florida flight that plunged into the Potomac River, claiming 78 lives. That crash was attributed to inclement weather
The last fatal crash involving a US commercial airline occurred in 2009 near Buffalo, New York, where 50 people lost their lives.
