American Airlines plane ‘collides midair’ with Black Hawk helicopter, DC crash VIDEO emerges: What we know so far

An American Airlines flight collided midair with a Black Hawk helicopter near Washington, D.C., late Wednesday (local US time). The crash occurred when the plane was landing at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The helicopter, which collided with the passenger jet, was operated by the Army.

Both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and American Airlines confirmed the news about the crash.

Meanwhile, all takeoffs and landings from the airport near Washington have been halted, news agency Associated Press reported.

There has been no confirmation of casualties. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas said on social media that “we know there are fatalities”, though he did not say how many.

American Airlines crash: What we know about Washington crash

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said a PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet "collided in midair" with a Sikorsky H-60 (Black Hawk) helicopter as it approached for landing at Reagan at around 9 pm (0200 GMT).

“PSA was operating as Flight 5342 for American Airlines. It departed from Wichita, Kansas,” the FAA said in the statement.

After colliding mid-air with the US military helicopter, the regional jet from Kansas crashed into Washington's Potomac River, officials told news agency AFP on Wednesday.

This prompted a major emergency response and grounding of all flights.

Meanwhile, the airlines said, “We’re aware of reports that American Eagle flight 5342, operated by PSA, with service from Wichita, Kansas (ICT) to Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA), has been involved in an incident.”

How many passengers were involved?

There were 60 passengers and four crew members on board the American Airlines aircraft. Meanwhile, the US Army said three soldiers aboard the military helicopter were involved in the crash.

While reports suggest 18 bodies have been found, there has been no confirmation on casualty so far. 

Donald Trump reacts: ‘May God bless their souls’

US President Donald Trump issued a statement regarding the regional jet and military helicopter crash in Washington DC late Wednesday.

He said in 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 our first responders are doing. I am monitoring the situation and will provide more details as they arise," Trump said.

In another statement posted on Truth Social, Donald Trump wrote that the airplane was on a perfect and routine line of approach to the airport, and that the helicopter was going straight at the airplane for an extended period of time. 

“It is a CLEAR NIGHT, the lights on the plane were blazing, why didn’t the helicopter go up or down, or turn. Why didn’t the control tower tell the helicopter what to do instead of asking if they saw the plane. This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented. NOT GOOD!!!,” Trump said.

American Airlines crash: 30 seconds before the crash

Less than 30 seconds before the crash, an air traffic controller asks the helicopter if it has the arriving plane in sight: “PAT25, do you have the CRJ in sight?” The controller makes another radio call to PAT25 moments later: “PAT 25 pass behind the CRJ.” The two aircraft collide seconds later.

As per AFP, an audio shows no response from a helicopter after the air traffic control warning.

Washington plane crash video

A video circulating on social media showed two sets of lights consistent with aircraft appearing to join in a fireball. The video was shot with an observation camera at the nearby Kennedy Center.

Another video, “shot on a dash cam”, showed visuals of the aftermath of the crash.

Another video showed the visuals after the scene “caught by a dash cam”.

Investigation underway

The Federal Aviation Administration said the collision remains under investigation. Meanwhile, on the social platform X, Washington, DC, police said that multiple agencies are conducting a search and rescue effort in the Potomac River after an aircraft crash.

American Airlines said in a statement that it will provide information “as it becomes available.”  The airport said emergency personnel were responding to “an aircraft incident on the airfield".

(With inputs from agencies)