A major search and rescue operation is underway after an American Airlines jet collided with a military helicopter in mid-air and fell into the Potomac River in Washington DC.
Four people have been pulled to safety by rescue crews diving into the freezing waters, with American Airlines confirming there were 60 passengers and four crew on board the plane.
Boats work at the scene on the Potomac River after a passenger jet and military helicopter collided in mid-air.
Rescue teams gather to respond to an airplane crash in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, DC, USA, 29 January 2025. According to a preliminary statement from the United States’ Federal Aviation Authority (FAA), a PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet that departed earlier today from Witchita, Kansas collided in mid-air with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter while on approach to Reagan Washington National Airport.
The US Army has confirmed that one of its Blackhawk helicopters was involved in the incident, with three soldiers on board and none said to be senior officials.
Reports from the scene say that the plane involved split in two while the helicopter, which was on a training flight, is upside down in the water.
The aircraft involved was Flight 5342 from Wichita, Kansas, which was due to land at Reagan National Airport just before 9pm.
A web camera shot from the Kennedy Center in Washington showed an explosion mid-air across the Potomac around 20 minutes before the crash.
The National Transportation Safety Board said it was gathering more information on the incident.
Fire engines and other emergency vehicles gather near the Potomac River.
A police car is seen racing to the scene with Reagan Washington National Airport in the background.
Four people have been pulled to safety by rescue crews diving into the freezing waters, with American Airlines confirming there were 60 passengers and four crew on board the plane.
The US Army has confirmed that one of its Blackhawk helicopters was involved in the incident, with three soldiers on board and none said to be senior officials.
Reports from the scene say that the plane involved split in two while the helicopter, which was on a training flight, is upside down in the water.
The aircraft involved was Flight 5342 from Wichita, Kansas, which was due to land at Reagan National Airport just before 9pm.
A web camera shot from the Kennedy Center in Washington showed an explosion mid-air across the Potomac around 20 minutes before the crash.
The National Transportation Safety Board said it was gathering more information on the incident.
The US Army has confirmed that one of its Blackhawk helicopters was involved in the incident, with three soldiers on board and none said to be senior officials.
Reports from the scene say that the plane involved split in two while the helicopter, which was on a training flight, is upside down in the water.
The aircraft involved was Flight 5342 from Wichita, Kansas, which was due to land at Reagan National Airport just before 9pm.
A web camera shot from the Kennedy Center in Washington showed an explosion mid-air across the Potomac around 20 minutes before the crash.
The National Transportation Safety Board said it was gathering more information on the incident.
Fire engines and other emergency vehicles gather near the Potomac River.
A police car is seen racing to the scene with Reagan Washington National Airport in the background.
FAQs
- What happened in the incident?
The American Airlines jet collided with a military helicopter in mid-air and fell into the Potomac River. - How many people were on board the plane?
There were 60 passengers and four crew on board the plane. - Have any people been rescued?
Four people have been pulled to safety by rescue crews diving into the freezing waters. - What type of helicopter was involved in the incident?
A Sikorsky H-60 helicopter was involved in the incident. - What was the plane flying from?
The plane was flying from Wichita, Kansas to Reagan National Airport in Washington DC. - What was the cause of the incident?
The cause of the incident is still unknown and is being investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board.