Breaking: U.S. Military Helicopter And Passenger Plane Collide Over Potomac, No Survivors Found Yet

30th Jan 2025
Breaking: U.S. Military Helicopter And Passenger Plane Collide Over Potomac, No Survivors Found Yet

On Thursday night, around 9 p.m. local time, a passenger jet carrying 64 people collided midair with a U.S. military helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Authorities have reported the recovery of 19 bodies from the crash site. The rescue efforts continue in search of possible survivors.

Update: 30 January, 4 PM

As of the latest reports, at least 28 bodies have been recovered from the Potomac River. Still, no survivors have been found so far. Over 300 emergency responders are engaged in this complex rescue mission.

According to the reports, the Black Hawk helicopter was not broadcasting ADS-B data and was not visible on flight radar. ATC recordings confirm that the Black Hawk helicopter (PAT25) acknowledged visual contact with the CRJ700 and requested visual separation.

Audio recordings. Credit: @fl360aero via X

Details Of The Collision

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that a PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700, operating as American Airlines Flight 5342, was on its final approach to Runway 33 when it collided in midair with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter. The aircraft had taken off from Wichita, Kansas, with 60 passengers and four crew members.

As of 09.06 CET, media reports say that rescue teams have found 19 bodies at the crash site in Washington, D.C. Unfortunately, there have been no survivors so far.

U.S. Military Helicopter Training Mission

The Black Hawk U.S. Military helicopter, stationed at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, was on a training flight, said Heather Chairez, a spokesperson for the Joint Task Force-National Capital Region. The helicopter, from the B Company, 12th Aviation Battalion, had three soldiers on board, with no senior officers.

Why Do They Make Training Flights Near Passenger Airports?

Military helicopters flying near busy airports isn’t as unusual as it sounds. Many military bases are near major cities, meaning their aircraft naturally share airspace with commercial flights. In this case, the Black Hawk was from Fort Belvoir, not far from Reagan Airport.

Military pilots don’t just train in empty skies. They practice flying in complex, real-life conditions, including busy airspace, to prepare for missions in urban areas or high-traffic zones. The tricky part is some military aircraft don’t broadcast ADS-B signals, meaning they don’t show up on commercial flight radars. This can make separation with civilian flights trickier.

Statements From Involved Parties

American Airlines issued a statement acknowledging the incident. “We are 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,” they said.

The U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee also released a statement. “We are closely following the accident at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and are in touch with the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board,” the statement says.

Ongoing Investigation & Government Response

The White House quickly responded, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt saying President Trump had received a briefing. In his statement, the president offered his condolences, praised first responders, and said he was closely monitoring the situation. He called it a “terrible night.” Trump also questioned why the U.S. military helicopter didn’t change altitude or direction and why the control tower didn’t guide it.

The FBI confirmed that, for now, the incident is not being treated as a criminal investigation.

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