An American Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter collided while landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington, D.C., the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported.
Authorities have confirmed fatalities, and no survivors have been recovered from the water so far, according to a law enforcement source. After the crash, rescue operations are still underway in the Washington, DC, area.
The source also stated that the plane had broken apart in the water, submerging the helicopter nearby. The incident occurred around 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday, leading to the suspension of all flights at the airport.
Webcam at the Kennedy Center caught an explosion mid-air across the Potomac. https://t.co/v75sxitpH6 pic.twitter.com/HInYdhBYs5
— Alejandro Alvarez (@aletweetsnews) January 30, 2025
According to the FAA, the PSA Airlines jet, operating under American Eagle, was descending when it struck a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter in midair. The aircraft can carry up to 65 passengers.
American Airlines acknowledged the collision and stated it would release more information as the situation developed.
Rescue teams were dispatched to the Potomac River near the airport. Surveillance footage from the Kennedy Center appeared to capture two airborne objects merging in an explosion. Additionally, air traffic control audio revealed an urgent exchange just before another pilot reported witnessing the crash.
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