At least 20 people were killed when a PSA Airlines regional passenger jet collided midair with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter on Wednesday night near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
The passenger jet, which had departed from Wichita, Kansas, crashed into the Potomac River after the tragic collision, prompting an immediate and large-scale emergency response.
The collision occurred around 9 p.m. local time, grounding all flights at Reagan National Airport. Multiple agencies, including fireboats, rushed to the scene in the dark and freezing conditions to conduct search and rescue operations. Washington police confirmed that bodies had been recovered from the water, while NBC reported that four people were pulled alive from the Potomac.
The passenger jet involved in the crash was a Bombardier regional jet, operated by PSA Airlines, a subsidiary of American Airlines. The aircraft had 60 passengers and four crew members onboard.
The plane was nearing its destination at Washington D.C. when it collided with the Sikorsky H-60 Black Hawk helicopter, which was carrying three soldiers. The Black Hawk helicopter, commonly known as the H-60, can carry up to 15 people, including crew.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered the grounding of all planes at the airport as authorities launched a full investigation into the crash. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is expected to assist in determining the cause of the midair collision.
“We are aware of reports that American Eagle flight 5342, operated by PSA Airlines, has been involved in an incident. We will provide further information as it becomes available,” American Airlines said in a statement. The company also expressed its condolences to those affected by the tragedy.
The incident has raised alarm over air safety, and investigations will focus on the circumstances leading up to the crash, including the coordination between the two aircraft and air traffic control operations at Reagan National Airport.
President Donald Trump was briefed on the situation and expressed his condolences for the tragedy. “It appears that a military helicopter collided with a regional jet,” said Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, expressed support for the families affected by the crash. “Our thoughts are with those affected by this tragedy, and we are mobilizing to support the families and crews directly impacted,” she said.
