A view of emergency response looking from Arlington, Va., south of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, across the Potomac River toward the District of Columbia, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025.
Alex Brandon | AP
An American Airlines regional jet with 64 people aboard collided with a military helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport outside Washington, D.C., Wednesday night, the Federal Aviation Administration said.
The PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jetliner collided with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter while the passenger jet was on approach around 9 p.m. ET to Runway 33 at the airport, the FAA said. Flight 5342 was arriving from Wichita, Kansas.
Sixty passengers and four crew members were on board the American flight, according to a person familiar with the details.
The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board as investigating the incident.
The PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jetliner collided with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter while the passenger jet was on approach around 9 p.m. ET to Runway 33 at the airport, the FAA said. Flight 5342 was arriving from Wichita, Kansas.
A view of emergency response looking from Arlington, Va., south of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, across the Potomac River toward the District of Columbia, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025.
Alex Brandon | AP
Local officials confirmed that at least one aircraft was in the Potomac River. Images on social media showed a large presence of emergency responders. Reagan Washington National was closed, the FAA said.
American Airlines posted on X that it was aware of the incident and would provide information as it became available. President Donald Trump was briefed on the incident, the White House press office said in a statement.
The airline’s website says its CRJ-700 aircraft have 65 seats.
The National Transportation Safety Board will lead the investigation into the incident.
This is breaking news. Please check back for updates.
