A tragic midair collision occurred on the evening of January 29, 2025, near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia. A PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet, operating as American Eagle Flight 5342 from Wichita, Kansas, collided with a U.S. Army Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter while approaching Runway 33 around 9 p.m. local time.
The regional jet carried 60 passengers and four crew members (64), while the Black Hawk helicopter had three Army soldiers on board. Following the collision, both aircraft went down into the Potomac River. Emergency response teams, including DC Fire and EMS, have been conducting search and rescue operations in the river. At least four individuals have been rescued and transported to local hospitals, but there is no confirmed information on casualties at this time.
In response to the incident, all takeoffs and landings at Reagan National Airport have been halted, though the terminal remains open. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the cause of the collision, with the NTSB leading the investigation.
President Donald Trump has been briefed on the situation and expressed his condolences, stating, “May God Bless their souls. Thank you for the incredible work being done by our first responders.”
As the situation unfolds, the aviation community, emergency responders, and the affected families await further clarity and support amid this heartbreaking ordeal. Continued updates are expected as investigations proceed, and the collective hopes of many rest on learning valuable lessons from this disaster to improve aviation safety in the future.
This is a developing story, and further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.