- Incident Overview: On January 29, 2025, an American Airlines regional jet, operating as Flight 5342, collided midair with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The passenger aircraft was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, while the helicopter had three soldiers aboard. The collision occurred during the plane’s approach for landing at approximately 9:00 PM local time[1][2][4].
- Casualties: As of the latest reports, at least 18 bodies have been recovered from the Potomac River, with no survivors expected from either aircraft. The search and rescue operations are ongoing, but harsh weather conditions are complicating efforts. Eyewitness accounts describe the passenger jet appearing to split in two upon impact, while the helicopter was found upside down in the water[1][2][4][6].
- Flight Operations Impact: Following the crash, all flights at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport were grounded. The airport announced that operations would not resume until at least 5 AM on January 30[1][3].
- Official Responses: President Trump has been briefed on the situation and expressed condolences for the victims, thanking first responders for their efforts. Other officials, including Vice President JD Vance, have called for prayers for those affected by this tragic incident[2][8][9].
- Investigation: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have initiated investigations into the crash. Preliminary reports indicate that both aircraft were operating normally prior to the collision[2][4][8].
This tragic event has deeply impacted not only those directly involved but also the wider community, particularly as some individuals associated with the figure skating community were on board the flight[4].
Citations:
[1] https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/plane-crash-dc-helicopter-potomac-river/
[2] https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g9kdgzj91o
[3] https://abc7.com/post/dc-plane-crash-reagan-national-airport-closed-due-aircraft-emergency-small-goes-down/15847811/
[4] https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/plane-crash-dca-potomac-washington-dc-01-29-25/index.html
[5] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFLEdf5dcGo
[6] https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/live-blog/live-updates-plane-crashes-potomac-river-collision-helicopter-reagan-n-rcna189942
[7] https://www.cbsnews.com/news/crash-reagan-national-airport-washington-dc/
[8] https://apnews.com/article/ronald-reagan-national-airport-crash-62adba7fb1f546b4cf1716e42b86482b
[9] https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2025/01/30/dc-plane-crash-updates-helicopter-potomac-reagan-airport/
[10] https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2025/01/29/aircraft-crash-potomac/
