A passenger plane with 64 passengers and crew crashed into the Potomac River in the Washington DC area after colliding mid-air with a US Army helicopter. Search and rescue teams have been working through the night in freezing temperatures, recovering at least 19 bodies from the river. The nearby Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is closed temporarily for investigations.
The PSA Airlines jet, identified as American Airlines 5342, collided with a US Army helicopter as it approached the airport around 21:00 local time on Wednesday. The plane, a Bombardier CRJ700 from Wichita, Kansas, was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members. The helicopter, a Sikorsky H-60 from Fort Belvoir in Virginia, was on a training flight with three soldiers on board from B Company, 12th Aviation Battalion.
A clip capturing the air traffic control conversation before the crash hinted at a warning to the helicopter from a controller, which received no response. The incident is under joint investigation by the FAA and NTSB. Among those on the flight were figure skaters from the US, Russia, and other passengers, including coaches and family members returning from a development camp in Kansas.
The response effort includes about 300 responders on rubber boats searching for survivors. Witness accounts described seeing the plane's abnormal banking before sparks were visible, leading to the crash. President Trump and Vice-President Vance offered condolences and prayers, while officials pledged to review flight paths near the airport. The American Airlines CEO and Kansas Senator expressed deep sorrow over the tragic event.