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Emergency response units assess the wreckage of the helicopter early Thursday morning. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images |
A massive search operation is underway after a passenger aircraft carrying 64 people collided midair with a US Army Black Hawk helicopter with three soldiers on board near Reagan National Airport outside of Washington, DC, according to aviation and defense officials.
About 300 first responders are searching the freezing Potomac River, where the aircraft crashed, the DC fire chief said.
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Emergency response units assess wreckage in the Potomac River early Thursday morning. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images |
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| DC Mayor Muriel Bowser at Reagan National Airport early Thursday morning. Ting Shen/AFP/Getty Images |
Several members of the figure skating community were on the passenger jet, according to a statement from US Figure Skating and a report from Russian state media.
President Donald Trump called the crash “a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented” in a post on social media. It was not immediately clear whether Trump’s post was based on information on which he had been officially briefed.
All Catch Up
It's 6 a.m. in Washington. Here are the latest developments after a fatal aircraft collision
From CNN's Hanna Park and Travis Caldwell
A large-scale search is underway after a midair collision between an American Airlines passenger jet carrying 64 people and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter with three soldiers on board near Reagan National Airport, just outside Washington, DC, officials said.
American Airlines Flight 5342, operated by PSA Airlines, was traveling from Wichita, Kansas, to Reagan National Airport Wednesday night, January 29, 2025.
Here’s what we know:
Collision on final approach: The crash occurred as Flight 5342 prepared for landing. The Black Hawk helicopter was on a training flight at the time of the incident, an official told CNN. Video of the incident shows a massive fireball erupting upon impact, and the two aircraft crashed into the Potomac River. Audio between the helicopter and air traffic control reveals communications were relayed seconds before the crash.
Deaths confirmed as rescue efforts continue: Fatalities have been confirmed, and rescuers have yet to find any survivors in the river, a law enforcement source said. The passenger jet is reportedly in pieces in the water, with the helicopter nearby. Conditions on the river have been described by officials as cold, windy and difficult.
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Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, late into the night on Wednesday. Mark Schiefelbein/AP |
Airport closure: Reagan National Airport is closed until at least 11 a.m. ET Thursday, officials said. A law enforcement source described the atmosphere as a “really somber mood, even at the rescue scene.” At the airport, family members of likely victims have gathered in an airport lounge as officials work to provide updates. Another news conference from authorities is expected at 7:30 a.m. ET.
Figure skating world shaken by tragedy: Several members of the figure skating community were passengers on the jet, US Figure Skating confirmed in a statement to CNN. Two world-champion Russian figure skaters were aboard the passenger plane, according to Russian state news agency TASS. A vigil in Wichita is planned for noon CT.
President weighs in on crash: President Donald Trump described the collision as “a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented” in a social media post. It remains unclear whether his remarks were based on an official briefing.
Reagan National is one of the most complex airports for pilots to approach
The location of Reagan National makes flying into that airport one of the most complicated jobs for commercial pilots flying in the US, a former FAA accident investigator said.
“Not only is it (one of) the busiest, it’s the most complex airport,” said David Soucie, CNN Safety Analyst. “There’s military and commercial together. There’s flight restrictions on where you can fly, what kind of approaches you have to make, and there’s demands on how quickly those airplanes have to come in and out.”
The airport sits just across an interstate from the Pentagon and across the Potomac River from Washington, DC, which has tightly restricted airspace.
Still, the complicated dance of coordinating planes in tight paths over large cities with multiple airports is something the US historically has done very effectively, Australian aviation analyst Geoffrey Thomas told CNN.
“The United States is the masters, you are the masters of complicated airspace,” said Thomas.
There's high risk when "you have too many aircraft in a very close airspace," ex-transportation official says
“You can’t get into the DCA airspace unless you are totally under air traffic control,” Mary Schiavo, the former inspector general of the US Transportation Department, told CNN. “Anybody operating in that had to coordinate with air traffic control. And we know that happened because air traffic control talked to the helicopter.”
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Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser addresses the media. Ken Cedeno/Reuters |
“There are a lot of things that can go wrong when you have too many aircraft in a very close airspace –– and that is DCA,” Schiavo added. “DCA is just a very busy airport that opened decades ago. It was supposed to close because it was too close to the city.”
CNN correspondent describes "somber" mood at Reagan National AirportFrom CNN's Hanna Park
Emergency crews are battling icy, choppy waters overnight near Reagan National Airport after a devastating crash over the Potomac River, and the first responders participating in ongoing search-and-rescue efforts are facing both difficult conditions and emotions, according to CNN’s Gabe Cohen.
“I spoke with a law enforcement source just a few minutes ago,” Cohen said. “He told me that there’s a really somber mood, even at the rescue scene. It feels — certainly not officially — but that we’re sort of moving from that ‘search-and-rescue operation’ into a recovery effort. They have pulled several bodies out. There are fatalities confirmed at the scene. And now we’re just waiting for answers.”
At the airport, family members of likely victims have gathered in an airport lounge as officials work to provide updates. The airport remains shut down until 11 a.m. Thursday.
“While officials wouldn’t give us any information on the recovery, potential survivors, or the fatality count, you could tell it was not good and that, barring a miracle, they were looking at potentially the worst disaster here in Washington in decades,” Cohen said.
DC temperatures to dip below freezing, chance of rain in upcoming days as rescue efforts continue
The temperature at Reagan National Airport is 45 degrees, with breezy yet clear conditions as search efforts are ongoing across the Potomac River. Temperatures will continue to drop through the overnight hours, to just below freezing by 6 a.m.
The high temperature on Thursday will climb to around 50 degrees with clear skies expected through the morning hours and increasing clouds through the afternoon.
By the end of the day on Thursday, rainfall from an approaching storm is expected to begin to impact the area. A slight chance of a shower is expected by 9 p.m., increasing to a steady rain by 1 a.m. Friday. Rainfall and gusty winds are expected most of the day with peak wind and rain expected between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Current forecasts call for about an inch of rainfall and gusts to 22 mph.
By Friday night, rainfall will begin to dwindle for the Washington, DC, area before largely wrapping up by early Saturday morning. Skies will clear up through the day on Saturday with temperatures climbing only to 48.
No rainfall is expected to end the weekend and through early next week with high temperatures in the upper 40s expected on Sunday and the lower 60s on Monday.
Water temperatures are expected to stay in the mid 30s every day through this time.
Air traffic audio captures moments before, during, and after the collisionFrom CNN's Alexandra Skores and Aaron Cooper
Air traffic controller audio obtained by CNN from LiveATC.net captures the moment the air traffic control operators ask the helicopter if the commercial flight operated by PSA Airlines is in sight.
An air traffic controller said, “PAT 2-5 do you have the CRJ in sight?”
The controller then said, “PAT 2-5 pass behind the CRJ.”
Additional air traffic control audio shortly before the collision captures the helicopter pilot saying, “PAT 2-5 has aircraft in sight, request visual separation.”
Less than 13 seconds later, the audio then captured audible gasps, including a loud “oooh” in the background apparently from the tower, at the moment of the crash.
The tower then alerted another pilot of what has taken place.
“I don’t know if you caught earlier what happened, but there was a collision on the approach end of 3-3. We are going to be shutting down operations for the indefinite future if you want to go back to the gate. Highly suggest you guys coordinate with the company. Let me know what you want to do,” the controller says, referencing runway 33.
The audio also revealed that another pilot had seen the incident and confirmed with an air traffic controller.
Another pilot could be heard saying, “Yeah, we were on short final, and we saw flares from the opposite side of the Potomac.”
An approach controller later said, “Apparently both aircraft involved are in the river, a search and rescue will be ongoing.”
A number of other aircraft made plans to divert to other airports following the incident as flights at DCA were halted.
This story has been updated with additional information.
House minority leader Jeffries "deeply saddened" by jet-helicopter collision
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries took to social media to express his condolences over the “heartbreaking and tragic” crash that took place over the Potomac River near Reagan National Airport Wednesday evening.
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| Sen. Jerry Moran speaks at a media briefing. Ting Shen/AFP/Getty Images |
The New York Democrat said he was “praying hard for the passengers, crew, servicemembers and first responders.”
“Deeply saddened by the heartbreaking and tragic crash at DCA. Praying hard for the passengers, crew, servicemembers and first responders,” he wrote.
Approximately 19 aircraft diverted to Dulles International Airport at time of crash
Approximately 19 aircraft were in the air at the time of the crash near Reagan National Airport and were diverted to Dulles International Airport, about 20 miles west.
There were 858 flights scheduled to take off and land at Reagan National Airport on Wednesday, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium, and 869 flights were scheduled to take off and land Thursday.
Reagan National Airport will be closed until at least 11 a.m. ET Thursday, officials said.
Citywide prayer vigil in Wichita is planned for Thursday, state aviation museum says
There will be a citywide prayer vigil in Wichita on Thursday, according to the Kansas Aviation Museum.
The vigil at 12 p.m. CT will be in the Wichita City Council Chambers, the museum said in a Facebook post.
“All are welcome to join in prayer and support for our community,” the post said.
“Tonight, our community and nation has suffered an enormous tragedy as American Airlines flight 5342 and a military helicopter collided in air. While we await news on the 64 souls on board the AA flight and 3 onboard the helicopter, our thoughts and prayers are with all affected by this tragedy as well as the aviation community,” the museum added.
DC Fire Chief says all search-and-rescue efforts are taking place in the water and will take multiple days
Emergency response units assess wreckage in the Potomac River early Thursday morning. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
DC’s Fire and EMS Chief John A. Donnelly Sr. said that all search-and-rescue efforts taking place right now are in the water and that conditions are “dangerous.”
“The challenges are access. The water that we’re operating in is about 8 feet deep, there is wind, there is pieces of ice out there so it’s just dangerous and hard to work in,” Donnelly said. “The water is dark, it is murky, and that is a very tough condition for them to dive in.”
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| The US Capitol is visible as emergency response units assemble near the site of the crash. Win McNamee/Getty Images |
“If you can imagine, the river is a large black spot at night with no lights on it, except for a few buoy lights,” he said.
Donnelly said he expected the investigation into the collision to take longer.
FBI underwater search and rescue team looking for victims in Potomac RiverFrom CNN's Josh Campbell
The FBI’s Washington Field Office dive team is assisting efforts to locate victims of Wednesday’s plane-helicopter collision in the Potomac River, a bureau spokesperson told CNN.
The FBI Underwater Search and Evidence Response Team (USERT) is comprised of specially trained agents stationed across the country who are tasked with searching for and recovering submerged evidence.
DC mayor confirms 64 people aboard plane and 3 people on military helicopter
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser confirmed early Thursday that “both aircraft are in the water,” and that 64 people were aboard the American Airlines plane and three were in the military helicopter.
“The focus now is rescuing people, and that’s what all of our personnel are focused on,” Bowser said.
She declined to comment on recovery efforts or the investigation, which she said will be led by the National Transportation Safety Board.
Earlier, American Airlines told CNN 60 passengers and four crew members were on board the plane that crashed.
Airport CEO says there were people at the airport "who were there to pick up loved ones
Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority CEO Jack Potter said Thursday that “we did have folks who were at the airport who were there to pick up loved ones,” adding that American Airlines has set up a center in the airport for friends and families.
“We’ve directed the families there, and there are counselors there to work with the families.”
Sen. Jerry Moran pledges support for rescue and investigation
Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran — who said he lobbied with other lawmakers for American Airlines to add a direct, nonstop flight route from Wichita to Washington’s DCA — described the crash as “a very personal circumstance” for Kansans during a press conference early Thursday.
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| A helicopter uses its searchlight as it flies above the Potomac River during search operations. Kevin Wolf/AP |
“It is certainly true that in Kansas and in Wichita in particular, we’re going to know people who are on this flight, know their family members, know somebody. So this is a very personal circumstance as well as an official response,” Moran said, referring to a service that has only been operating for about a year.
He pledged to support rescue efforts and ensure Congress is “engaged in what needs to take place” as the investigation unfolds.
Moran said he has spoken with the National Transportation Safety Board, the White House, the Department of Defense and American Airlines, adding, “there is all of us pulling together for the best outcome possible.”
Reagan Airport will be closed until at least 11 a.m. ET
Reagan National Airport will be closed until at least 11 a.m. ET Thursday, Jack Potter, the president and CEO of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, said at a news conference.
There is no impact to the Washington area’s other airport, Dulles International Airport, he said.
300 responders working on search-and-rescue operation, says DC Fire Chief
Emergency response units conduct search operations in the Potomac River on Wednesday. Al Drago/Getty Images
There are currently about 300 responders working in a search-and-rescue operation at the Potomac River, DC Fire and EMS Chief John A. Donnelly Sr. said at a press conference at Reagan National Airport.
“At 8:58 (p.m.), the first units arrived on the scene and found an aircraft in the water and began rescue operations. This incident has grown,” he said. An alert was first sounded at 8:48 p.m., he said.
Donnelly described conditions as dark, cold and windy.
President Donald Trump said early Thursday morning that the midair collision between a US Army helicopter and American Airlines passenger plane was a “bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented.”
“The airplane was on a perfect and routine line of approach to the airport. 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,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
“This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented. NOT GOOD!!!” the president continued.
It was not immediately clear whether Trump’s post was based on information on which he had been officially briefed. CNN is reaching out to the White House.
Potomac River has an average depth of 24 feet
The Potomac River has an average depth of 24 feet, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). Averaging approximately 400 miles long from its headwaters at North Branch to its mouth in the Chesapeake Bay, the USGS said on their website.
The Potomac ranks 48th among 135 US rivers that are more than 100 miles long, it added.
The deepest point near Morgantown, Maryland, is 107 feet, while the navigable channel depth is 24 feet, which is maintained for 108 miles in the tidal portion of the river, downstream from Washington, DC, the website said.
NOW: Authorities hold news conference on midair plane collision
Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser addresses the media, at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport early Thursday morning.Ken Cedeno/Reuters
Authorities are holding a news conference on Wednesday’s collision between an American Airlines passenger plane and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport outside of Washington, DC.
The plane, American Airlines Flight 5342 with 60 passengers and four crew members on board, had departed from Wichita, Kansas, according to the airline. Three soldiers were on board the helicopter, which was a training flight, officials say.
Search and rescue operation is becoming more grim, with no survivors recovered so far, source says
A search and rescue boat operates along the Potomac River on Wednesday. Carlos Barria/Reuters
The search and rescue operation for survivors of Wednesday’s plane collision is becoming more grim, according to a law enforcement source.
The source described images from rescuers as “stunning,” saying it was hard to make out what they were seeing. The plane, they said, was in several pieces.
Two law enforcement sources and a source familiar with the situation confirm that no survivors had been recovered at this point.
Officials are preparing for this to be the deadliest disaster in DC in decades since an Air Florida Flight crashed into the 14th Street Bridge, connecting Arlington, Virginia, and Washington, DC, in 1982, according to the source.
Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser will be part of the 12:30 a.m. presser, her team says.
American Airlines CEO says he's heading to DC
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom says he will be heading to Washington, DC, to assess the midair plane collision and support employees.
“Members of our Go Team will be on their way to Washington DC and I’ll be heading there shortly as well,” Isom said in a video message.
The airline has also set up a helpline for friends and family at 1-800-679-8215.
Transportation secretary says he has spoken with local authorities, pledging federal support
Newly sworn-in Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Wednesday he has spoken to local and state leaders regarding the collision involving a passenger jet near Reagan National Airport.
Duffy said he has instructed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Department of Transportation (USDOT) to “provide full support” to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and other agencies involved in the response.
“I have directed @USDOT and @FAANews to provide full support to the @NTSB and all responding agencies and authorities,” Duffy wrote in a post on X.
“I have spoken with Washington DC Mayor Bowser, Virginia Governor Youngkin, Kansas Governor Kelly and NTSB Chair Homendy to offer our agency’s complete assistance,” he added. “Thank you to all first responders who are on the scene and conducting the search and rescue operations.”
Reagan National Airport will remain closed until Friday morning, FAA says
Reagan National Airport will remain closed until at least Friday at 5 a.m., according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
All takeoffs and landings have been halted at Reagan National Airport after a passenger aircraft carrying 64 people collided with a US Army helicopter as it approached a runway at the airport, according to the FAA and defense officials.
The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority released a statement describing response to the collision.
“Around 9 p.m. on Wednesday evening, emergency personnel at Reagan National Airport initiated their response to a crash between a passenger aircraft, identified by the FAA as American Eagle flight 5342, and a Sikorsky helicopter. Mutual aid from neighboring agencies were called to assist, and takeoffs and landings at the airport were halted for the remainder of the evening,” the statement said. “We will continue to post information as it becomes available.”
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Onlookers watch as emergency crews respond to the crash site.Alex Wroblewski/Bloomberg/Getty Images |
CNN’s Audrey Ash and Amanda Jackson contributed reporting to this post.
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