Passenger jet collides with military helicopter near Washington Reagan National Airport

An American Airlines passenger jet collided with a military helicopter near Washington Reagan National Airport Wednesday evening, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

In a first post to X around 9:12 p.m. local the Ronald Reagan Airport stated “emergency personnel” were sent to respond to an “aircraft incident,” noting that while the terminal still remained open, the DCA would be closed. The DC Fire and EMS Department confirmed after on their social media account that a “small aircraft” had gone down in the Potomac River vicinity, with fire boats sent to the scene.

In a statement provided to the Daily Caller News Foundation, the FAA confirmed that a “PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet” operating for American Airlines “collided in midair with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter” while approaching the runway around 9 p.m. local time. The commercial American Airlines flight was confirmed to have departed from Wichita, Kan., according to the FAA.

Early video footage posted to X shows the reported moments during the collision, with two aircraft seen heading toward each other before an explosion occurs.

WATCH:

🚨#BREAKING: A significant emergency response is underway, and a mass casualty has been declared after an American Airlines jet collided with a D.C. Police helicopter in a possible midair collision.

📌#Washington | #DC

Currently, a significant emergency response is underway in… pic.twitter.com/yR5GYGocQr

— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) January 30, 2025

Helicopters were also seen searching over the Potomac River area, using spotlights on the water, as a search and rescue operation got underway after the collision.

WATCH:

🚨 #BREAKING: A plane has crashed into a helicopter while landing at Reagan National Airport near Washington, DC

Fatalities have been reported, a MASSIVE search & rescue operation is happening in the Potomac River

Witnesses reported seeing a “massive crash” and hearing a loud… pic.twitter.com/GtSiWjUWn0

— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) January 30, 2025

In a statement released online, American Airlines said they were “aware of reports that American Eagle flight 5342, operated by PSA,” had been involved in an incident and “will provide information as it becomes available.”

It is unclear how many people were aboard the aircrafts, however, the Metropolitan Police Department, DC Fire and EMS Department released a joint statement confirming there is “no confirmed information on casualties” as of Wednesday evening. According to Republican Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall, the lawmaker posted to X stating that the commercial aircraft had been carrying “roughly 60 passengers” during the time of the incident.

Early reports from NBC News revealed that at least four survivors were allegedly found and taken to the North Boathouse Fire Station. Fox News chief national security correspondent Jennifer Griffin reported late Wednesday evening that, according to the Army, no senior officials were onboard the military helicopter.

The FAA confirmed that the National Transportation Safety Board will be leading the investigation into the incident.

This is a breaking story and will be updated.

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