Passenger jet crashes into Potomac River near Reagan National after colliding with military helicopter

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A regional jet from Kansas crashed into D.C.’s Potomac River after colliding midair with a military Black Hawk helicopter near Virginia’s Reagan National Airport, authorities said Wednesday.

The Sikorsky H-60 and the plane collided as the plane was preparing to land.

The Federal Aviation Administration said the collision happened around 9 p.m. as the plane was approaching Runway 33.

The flight — operated by PSA for American Airlines — departed from Wichita, Kansas, around 5:20 p.m., the FAA said in a statement.

American Airlines said it was aware of the incident and confirmed there were 60 passengers and four crew members aboard the CRJ700 series aircraft.

Three Army soldiers were on board the Black Hawk conducting a standard training flight, officials said.

The Associated Press reports there were multiple fatalities, according to a person familiar with the matter, but the precise number of victims was unclear as rescue crews searched for any survivors.

The person who told The Associated Press that there had been multiple deaths was not authorized to publicly discuss details of the investigation and spoke on condition of anonymity.

American Airlines Flight 5342 was inbound to Reagan National at an altitude of about 400 feet and a speed of about 140 miles per hour when it suffered a rapid loss of altitude over the Potomac River, according to data from its radio transponder. The Canadian-made Bombardier CRJ-701 twin-engine jet, manufactured in 2004, can be configured to carry up to 70 passengers.

Less than 30 seconds before the crash, an air traffic controller asked the helicopter if it had the arriving plane in sight. The controller made another radio call to the helicopter moments later: “PAT 25 pass behind the CRJ.” Seconds after that, the two aircraft collided, the Associated Press reported.

When asked at a press conference held at Reagan National in the predawn hours on Thursday, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser declined to comment on the condition of the aircraft or give any information regarding the state of the passengers on board.

“I speak for the people of Washington, 700,000 of us, who are extremely sorry for the families who are experiencing loss tonight,” she said.

Multiple reports have detailed the military helicopter was found upside down in the water and the PSA Airlines plane was found broken apart into pieces.

Jack Potter, president and CEO of Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, told reporters that the focus remained on rescue: “We’re in a rescue mode.”

Potter said a total of 19 aircrafts were diverted to Dulles International Airport. Reagan National will remain closed until at least 11 a.m. Thursday.

“It’s an active operation that’s going to last many hours as we continue to work through recovery efforts and rescue operations,” MWAA Fire and EMS Chief Richard Bonnet said at the press conference. “This will be ongoing for quite a while.”

Divers, responders attempt passenger rescue in dark, cold river

Earlier footage from an observation camera near the Kennedy Center captured the moment in which two sets of lights, consistent with an aircraft, appeared to explode.

WTOP’s Mike Murillo said first responders were pooled from across the D.C. region, including emergency personnel from Fairfax and Montgomery counties.

“I’ve done this for 20 years — I have not seen this many first responders surrounding the entire Potomac River. It’s lit up on the D.C. side,” Murillo said, while reporting from Daingerfield Island. “They’re calling in every resource they have here tonight.”

“Now, it’s unclear what they’re doing at each site due to the distance. I can’t really tell. It could be where they’re letting boats into the water. But, in some spots, you’re seeing so many emergency vehicles in one spot — it would just seem that there’s also search and recovery going on there as well,” Murillo said.

As operations remain ongoing, cold water warnings issued by the National Weather Service remain in effect. Temperature readings at the Potomac River ranged around 35 degrees on Wednesday.

The agency warned sudden immersion in water temperatures like these could cause cold shock, which can prompt immediate panic, a spike in heart rate and heighten the risk of heart failure.

John Donnelly, chief of D.C. Fire and EMS, told reporters that about 300 first responders were working the scene.

“It’s a highly complex operation,” Donnelly said. “The conditions out there are extremely rough for the responders. It’s cold. They’re dealing with relatively windy conditions. Wind is hard out on the river.”

He added that the waters were “dark” and “murky.” The area of the Potomac River where officials are searching is roughly 8 feet deep.

“It’s eerie, too. You’re right here next to Reagan National Airport. It’s quiet,” Murillo said, describing the scene.

“You can see the roads along the river. And, while George Washington Memorial Parkway is still open, there’s not a lot of cars on it. There’s a lot of ramps, too, being blocked by police. They want to make sure these first responders can get to where they need to go. They might have to go into the water, different areas if these helicopters spot something in the water.”

U.S. Figure Skating said in a statement that several members of their community were on the plane:

“These athletes, coaches, and family members were returning home from the National Development Camp held in conjunction with the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas,” the statement reads.

“We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts. We will continue to monitor the situation and will release more information as it becomes available.”

Regional officials react

Bowser issued a statement shortly after news of the incident broke, saying, “Our prayers are with everyone involved, and we will continue to keep the public updated as more information becomes available.”

President Donald Trump also added that he was “fully briefed on this terrible incident.” He also questioned why air traffic officials did not “tell the helicopter what to do instead of asking if they saw the plane.”

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said the state’s Department of Emergency Management has raised it emergency operations to “Enhanced” status in support and other departments have deployed divers and police to assist with rescue missions.

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin also said he’d been briefed by his Emergency Management team and the Virginia State Police. “Extensive resources are fully supporting the search and rescue efforts,” he wrote in a post on X.

Additionally, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly said she is “actively in contact with authorities,” and that she would “share more information as it becomes available.” A vigil is already scheduled in Kansas around noon Central Time on Thursday.

The FAA and NTSB will investigate the midair collision, with NTSB leading the investigation. The NTSB has organized a “go-team” for its probe into the collision.

American Airlines is urging anyone who may have had loved ones aboard the plane to call 1-800-679-8215.