A passenger plane collided with an Army helicopter while attempting to land at Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington, D.C., and fell into the Potomac River late Wednesday, local authorities confirmed.
Key Takeaways
- In a statement on X, the Federal Aviation Administration said a Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet operated by PSA Airlines—a regional carrier for American Airlines—crashed into a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter while approaching the runway at Reagan airport at around 9 p.m.
- The Bombardier jet—which originated in Wichita, Kansas—was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, American Airlines told multiple outlets, making the flight fairly full, as a CRJ700 regional jet can usually seat between 60 and 80 passengers.
- The chopper involved in the crash was a U.S. Army Blackhawk helicopter carrying three people, NBC and The New York Times reported, citing unnamed military officials.
- Details about casualties have not been released but the Washington Post, citing local authorities, reported that rescue workers have recovered bodies from the river.
- After the crash, all takeoffs and landings were halted at Reagan National although the airport’s terminals remained open.
- White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News host Sean Hannity that President Donald Trump has been briefed about the incident and both federal and local law enforcement are working “to try to save as many lives as possible.”
What Do We Know About The Rescue And Recovery Efforts?
In press conference early on Thursday John Donnelly, the chief of Washington’s fire and emergency medical services department, said the first units arrived at the scene at 8:58 p.m. local time, 10 minutes after they first received an alert, “and found an aircraft in the water and began rescue operations.” Donnelly said 300 emergency responders are on the scene and they are working on a “highly complex operation” due to “extremely rough” and windy conditions.
What Do We Know About The Number Of Casualties?
No official casualty count has been released yet, but Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., indicated there may be several fatalities during the press conference in. “When one person dies, it’s a tragedy, but when many, many, many people die, it’s an unbearable sorrow…It’s really hard when you lose probably over 60 Kansans simultaneously…It is such a tragedy that we lost them.” D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, however, noted that “The focus now is rescuing people, and that’s what all of our personnel are focused on.”
What Do We Know About The Passengers Onboard?
Details about the passengers on board the plane and the helicopter are limited. However, U.S. Figure Skating—the official governing body for figure skating in the U.S—said “several members” of its community were on the plane. “These athletes, coaches, and family members were returning home from the national development camp held in conjunction with the US figure skating championships in Wichita, Kansas.” Russian state news outlet TASS reported that a former world champion pairs figure skater duo from the country may have been onboard the plane.
What Have Federal Officials Said About The Potomac Plane Crash?
In a statement, President Donald Trump said “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 being done by our first responders. I am monitoring the situation and will provide more details as they arise.”
Vice President J.D. Vance wrote on X: “Please say a prayer for everyone involved in the mid-air collision near Reagan airport this evening. We’re monitoring the situation, but for now let’s hope for the best.”
Transport Secretary Sean Duffy announced he was “on site at the FAA HQ and closely monitoring the situation,” while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth noted the Pentagon was “actively monitoring” and is “Poised to assist if needed.”
Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, tweeted: “We are deploying every available US Coast Guard resource for search and rescue efforts in this horrific incident at DCA.”
Key Background
The area around Reagan National Airport is heavily congested and tightly controlled, with a busy airport sitting in close proximity to sensitive sites like the Pentagon and Washington, D.C. Serious crashes involving large passenger jets are exceedingly rare in the United States: The worst commercial crash post-Sept. 11 took place in 2009, when a regional Colgan Air jet crashed in upstate New York, killing 50 people.
This is a developing story. More to come.
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