According to the Associated Press, a regional jet from American Airlines collided with a helicopter in midair while approaching Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday night.
Search crews have recovered 18 bodies, with no survivors found so far, according to CBS News.
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FAA Confirms American Airlines-Black Hawk Collision
The Federal Aviation Administration stated that the collision occurred around 9 p.m. ET when the regional jet from Wichita, Kansas, collided with a military Blackhawk helicopter as it approached the airport runway.
According to CBS News, American Airlines flight 5342 had 60 passengers and four crew members aboard. An official also confirmed that three U.S. Army soldiers were on the Black Hawk Sikorsky H-60.
Fatal Collision Near Reagan Airport: Search Ongoing
According to radio transponder data, the flight experienced a sudden loss of altitude over the Potomac River.
The airport operator announced on X that Ronald Reagan Airport has halted all aircraft take-offs and landings following the incident at the airfield.
The Pentagon confirmed in a statement that the helicopter had taken off from Fort Belvoir, Virginia. An official stated that the Army helicopter was on a training flight, according to the AP.
A search and rescue operation is underway near the Potomac River, with the DC fire department, police, and the US Coast Guard participating. During a press conference, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser stated that first responders were working in “dark and cold conditions.”
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom expressed “deep sorrow” over the incident and stated that the airline is “fully cooperating” with the National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation.
President Donald Trump issued a statement saying, “I have been fully briefed on the tragic accident at Reagan National Airport. May God bless their souls. Thank you to our first responders for their remarkable efforts. I am monitoring the situation and will share more details as they become available.”
He later took to TruthSocial to ask why the plane had its lights on during a clear night and why the control tower didn’t provide instructions to the helicopter.
He wrote in his post, “This is a terrible situation that seems like it could have been avoided. NOT GOOD!”
Newly confirmed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the Pentagon is “actively monitoring” the situation. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy also mentioned that he had spoken with the President and that the Department of Transportation is working with the mayor and first responders to offer assistance.
U.S. Senator Ted Cruz confirmed there were fatalities in the crash, though the exact number of people onboard is still unknown. “While we don’t yet know how many onboard were lost, we know there are fatalities,” Cruz posted on X.
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