Tragic Midair Collision Between American Airlines Jet and U.S. Army Black Hawk Helicopter Near Washington, D.C.
A tragic midair collision occurred on January 29, 2025, near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington, D.C. An American Airlines regional jet, a Bombardier CRJ700 operated by PSA Airlines under the flight number 5342, collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter. The jet was approaching Runway 33 when the collision happened around 9 p.m. local time.The jet was carrying 64 people, and the helicopter had four occupants. There were no survivors from either aircraft. Recovery operations have been ongoing, with 27 bodies recovered from the airplane and one from the helicopter. The crash site is in the Potomac River, and no survivors are expected.
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The helicopter was engaged in a training mission at the time of the collision. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are leading the investigation, with assistance from the U.S. Army.
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Several members of the U.S. Figure Skating community were among the passengers on the American Airlines flight, returning from a National Development Camp in Wichita, Kansas. The community expressed deep sorrow over the loss of their athletes, coaches, and family members.President Donald Trump commented on the incident, expressing his concerns about the circumstances of the collision and questioning why preventive measures were not taken.
