American Airlines flight collides mid-air with U.S. Army helicopter near DC, at least 18 dead

A tragic mid-air collision occurred on Wednesday night near Washington, D.C., when American Airlines Flight 5342 collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter. The incident took place around 9:00 PM local time as the Bombardier CRJ700 aircraft, a regional jet, was approaching Reagan National Airport for landing. Both the commercial plane and military helicopter crashed into the Potomac River, leading to a large-scale search and rescue operation.

American Airlines Flight 5342 was a regional flight from Wichita, Kansas, to Washington D.C. The plane was carrying 60 passengers and 4 crew members. The Black Hawk helicopter, a U.S. Army aircraft involved in a training flight, had three soldiers aboard. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the collision occurred approximately 400 feet above the ground while the plane was in its final descent toward Reagan National Airport, located just a few miles from the White House. Both aircraft plummeted into the Potomac River following the collision.

Witness footage from a nearby observation camera at the Kennedy Center showed two sets of lights in the sky, followed by a large fireball, indicating the violent impact. Emergency personnel, including DC Fire and EMS, U.S. Park Police, and military personnel, were immediately dispatched to the scene. Fireboats were deployed to assist in the search for survivors and recover bodies from the wreckage.

As of now, authorities have recovered 18 bodies from the river, but the final death toll has yet to be confirmed. The wreckage of the American Airlines flight was split in half, and the Black Hawk helicopter was found upside down in the river. Police divers and rescue teams continue to search the area for any remaining victims.

Reagan National Airport temporarily suspended all flights following the crash. The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched a joint investigation into the incident. The investigation will focus on the sequence of events that led to the mid-air collision, examining the role of air traffic control, flight crew actions, and any potential technical issues. U.S. officials have confirmed that the crash occurred within a few miles of downtown Washington, D.C., and the White House.

President Donald Trump was briefed on the crash and expressed his condolences and gratitude to the first responders involved in the recovery efforts. The NTSB has confirmed it is working closely with the FAA, local authorities, and military officials to determine the cause of the collision.