Politicians

American Airlines plane collides with US Army helicopter and crashes into a river

A US passenger plane carrying 64 people crashed into Washington’s Potomac River on Wednesday night, January 29th, 2025, after colliding mid-air with a military helicopter near Reagan National Airport, prompting a major emergency response.

Flight 5342, a PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet operating for American Airlines traveling from Wichita Kan., collided with the military chopper while approaching Runway 33 at the Washington airport around 9 p.m., according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

About 300 first responders and divers are part of an active search of the Potomac, which is a perilous 35 degrees for the 60 passengers and four crew members aboard the American Airlines flight and the three soldiers travelling in the military chopper, with first responders recovering the remains of at least 18 people, according to CBS News.

Officials did not confirm the recovery of any passengers on either aircraft at a press conference early Thursday morning.

Audio from Air Traffic Control captured the moment the flight safety agency reported the h0rrific mid-air collision just minutes before the American Airlines flight was cleared to land.

“It was probably out in the middle river. I just saw a fireball and then it was gone,” the air traffic controller can be heard saying on audio.

The American Airlines plane reportedly split in two and remains upside down and unstable as it floats in 7 feet of water near the shore of Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling.

President Trump said in a statement. “I have been fully briefed on the terrible accident that just took place at Reagan National Airport. May God Bless their souls, this could have been prevented, why didn’t the control tower tell them what to do instead of asking if they saw the plane” 

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