There was a mid-air collision between a commercial airliner and a Sikorsky H-60 Black Hawk helicopter Wednesday night over the Capital Region.
“A PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet collided in midair with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter while on approach to Runway 33 at Reagan Washington National Airport around 9 p.m. local time, the FAA said in a statement. “PSA was operating as Flight 5342 for American Airlines. It departed from Wichita, Kansas.”
Author’s note: The ATC audio referenced in the new title can be found in an update towards the bottom of this post.
“The FAA and NTSB will investigate,” the statement added. “The NTSB will lead the investigation.”
“…multiple agencies are responding,“ the Metropolitan District Police said on X. “A multi-agency search and rescue operation is underway in the Potomac River after aircraft crash. Updates to follow. All information will follow in this thread.”
There was no immediate confirmation of casualties, MDC stated.
Webcam footage showed what appeared to be a mid-air explosion.
All takeoff and landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport have been suspended as a result of the crash, airport officials announced on X.
The airspace around the U.S. Capital is by far the most heavily monitored and densely defended in the United States. It is totally unclear how this tragedy occurred, but there will be no shortage of data for the investigation to review in order to come to a conclusion.
This is a developing story. We will be updating it with new info as it comes.
Update: 10:58 PM Eastern –
There were 60 passengers and four crew onboard the flight that collided on approach to Reagan National Airport with the helicopter, American Airlines told CNN. The helicopter involved was a U.S. Army Black Hawk with a crew of three and was not carrying any VIPs, according to a US defense official, the network reported.
“We can confirm that the aircraft involved in tonight’s incident was an Army UH-60 helicopter out of Fort Belvoir, Virginia,” that official told the network. “We are working with local officials and will provide additional information once it becomes available.”
President Donald Trump released a statement:
“I have been fully briefed on the terrible accident which just took place at Reagan National Airport. May God Bless their souls. Thank you for the incredible work being done by our first responders. I am monitoring the situation and will provide more details as they arise.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a statement as well.
“DoD actively monitoring. Poised to assist if needed. Prayers for all involved,” he stated on X.
Update: 11:16 PM Eastern –
The Army released a statement.
“We can confirm that the aircraft involved in tonight’s incident was an Army UH-60 helicopter out of Fort Belvoir, Virginia. We are working with local officials and will provide additional information once it becomes available.”
Joint Task Force-National Capitol Region also released a statement.
“We can confirm that the aircraft involved in tonight’s incident was an Army UH-60 helicopter from Bravo Company, 12th Aviation Battalion, out of Davison Army Airfield, Fort Belvoir during a training flight,” JTF-NCR media chief Heather Chairez stated. “We are working with local officials and will provide additional information once it becomes available.”
The 12th Aviation Battalion provides VIP and other helicopter airlift support across the National Capitol Region (NCR) around Washington, D.C. The unit is also part of so-called “continuity of government” planning to help ensure the U.S. government can continue to function following a major attack, natural disaster, or similar crisis. In that role, the battalion’s helicopters would fly senior officials and lawmakers to designated secure sites. You can read more about all of this here.
Reagan International will be closed till at least 5:00 AM local time:
Here are the tracks of the aircraft involved:
Update: 11:45 PM Eastern –
We now have chilling air traffic control audio from the time of the collision, you can listen to it below (credit ATCLive.net). Also note the “Blackjack” callsign used by USCG MH-65s, which fly out of Reagan International and sit alert to respond to slower-flying aircraft that breach the restricted airspace around the capital. The other military callsign, “Mussel,” is likely a USAF UH-1N from the 1st Helicopter Squadron out of nearby Andrews AFB.
Update: 12:45 AM Eastern –
Additional views of the collision as seen by bystanders on the ground have emerged.
Images have also emerged that are said to show boats working around wreckage in the Potomac. There are reports that there are at least three distinct debris fields in the river.
Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy has put out a statement pledging “full support to the NTSB [National Transportation Safety Board] and all responding agencies and authorities.” He also said “I have spoken with Washington D.C. Mayor Bowser, Virginia Governor Youngkin, Kansas Governor Kelly, and NTSB Chair Homendy to offer our agency’s complete assistance” and thanked first responders who are continuing with the search and rescue effort.
In a post on Truth Social, President Donald Trump has openly questioned the circumstances surrounding the collision.
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom has also put a video statement seen below.
Update: 8:01 AM Eastern Jan. 30 –
During a press conference held at Ronald Reagan National Airport, officials released new details about the crash and ensuing investigation.
There were tragically no survivors and the effort has transitioned from rescue to recovery.
First responders found “extremely frigid conditions,” DC Fire and EMS chief John A Donnelly said. “They found heavy wind. They found ice on the water, and they’ve operated all night in those conditions…we don’t believe there are any survivors.”
So far, 27 bodies have been recovered from the plane, and one from the helicopter, he added.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy noted that the accident occurred on a clear night last night, and the helicopter was in a “standard flight pattern.” The airliner was landing on a standard flight path.
Both aircraft have been located, he noted.
“The plane was found inverted, in three sections, in waist-deep water,” he said.
Update: 2:07 PM Eastern—
You can read our newest piece with all the latest details on this tragic mishap here.
Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com