A screengrab of American Eagle formation 5342 colliding with a chopper portion approaching Reagan Washington National Airport and crashed successful the Potomac River, Virginia. (Source: @spectatorindex)
Hours aft an American Airlines rider level with 64 aboard collided mid-air with a US Army Black Hawk chopper adjacent Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, a video of the incidental has surfaced showing the fiery explosion.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the rider craft progressive was PSA-operated Flight 5342 for American Airlines, which had departed from Wichita, Kansas. The hose confirmed that 60 passengers and 4 unit members were onboard.
BREAKING: Footage of aerial collision implicit Washington DC pic.twitter.com/GIqRAaPaC3
— The Spectator Index (@spectatorindex) January 30, 2025
The US Army UH-60 Black Hawk, based retired of Fort Belvoir, Virginia, was conducting a grooming formation astatine the clip of the collision, Joint Task Force-National Capital Region spokesperson Heather Chairez told Reuters. The chopper had 3 soldiers onboard, but their information remains unknown. A US official, speaking anonymously, confirmed that nary elder subject officials were aboard the aircraft.
Emergency work vehicles basal adjacent the tract of the clang aft American Eagle formation 5342 collided with a chopper portion approaching Reagan Washington National Airport and crashed successful the Potomac River, extracurricular Washington. (Source: Reuters)
Authorities, including aggregate instrumentality enforcement and exigency effect agencies, person launched a large-scale hunt and rescue ngo successful the Potomac River. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced that “every available” US Coast Guard assets has been deployed to assistance successful the efforts. Noem said successful a station connected X, “We are deploying each disposable US Coast Guard assets for hunt and rescue efforts successful this horrific incidental astatine DCA. We are actively monitoring the concern & basal acceptable to enactment section responders.”
We are deploying each disposable US Coast Guard assets for hunt and rescue efforts successful this horrific incidental astatine DCA. We are actively monitoring the concern & basal acceptable to enactment section responders.
Praying for the victims and archetypal responders.
— Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) January 30, 2025
President Donald Trump released a connection acknowledging the severity of the accident. He stated, “I person been afloat briefed connected the unspeakable mishap which conscionable took spot astatine Reagan National Airport. May God Bless their souls. Thank you for the unthinkable enactment being done by our archetypal responders. I americium monitoring the concern and volition supply much details arsenic they arise.”
A presumption shows Reagan Washington National Airport, arsenic seen from Arlington, aft American Eagle formation 5342 collided with a helicopter. (Source: Reuters)
Meanwhile, US Senator Ted Cruz indicated that determination were fatalities from the collision, though helium did not specify however many. In a post connected X, helium said, “I americium intimately monitoring the concern astatine DCA, and I volition person a briefing from the FAA tomorrow. While we don’t yet cognize however galore connected committee were lost, we cognize determination are fatalities. Please articulation Heidi and maine successful praying for each progressive arsenic the hunt and rescue is underway.”
I americium intimately monitoring the concern astatine DCA, and I volition person a briefing from the FAA tomorrow. While we don’t yet cognize however galore connected committee were lost, we cognize determination are fatalities. Please articulation Heidi and maine successful praying for each progressive arsenic the hunt and rescue is underway.
— Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) January 30, 2025