Rescue teams are actively working following a collision between a military helicopter and a passenger aircraft. An eyewitness has shared details of the tragic incident, some captured in video footage.
A plane crash near Washington, D.C., has drawn national attention, marking the most significant commercial aviation disaster in the United States since 2009. Officials indicate that rescue efforts may be slower than expected due to extreme cold.
Authorities confirmed that American Airlines Flight 5342, a PSA Airlines-operated Bombardier CRJ700, collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport on January 29, 2025. The aircraft had been en route from Wichita, Kansas, when the incident occurred, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
Part of the wreckage pictured as rescue boats search the waters on January 30, 2025, in Washington, D.C. | Source: Getty Images
The plane was scheduled to land around 9 p.m., but its approach was cut short when D.C. police received emergency calls at 8:53 p.m. reporting “an aircraft crash above the Potomac River.”
Defense officials stated that the Black Hawk was conducting a training mission at the time. Stationed at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, the 12th Aviation Battalion specializes in helicopter transport and technical rescue operations for the National Capital Region. However, the helicopter’s departure location before the crash has yet to be determined.
