All 64 Passengers Killed In Washington DC Plane-Helicopter Collision, 28 Bodies Recovered

Last Updated:January 30, 2025, 22:24 IST

An American Airlines flight and a Blackhawk helicopter collided mid-air near Reagan Airport, crashing into the Potomac River. All aboard the aircraft are feared dead as 28 bodies have been recovered.

Emergency personnel work near the site of the crash after a plane collided with a helicopter while approaching Reagan Washington Airport and crashed in the Potomac River (Photo: Reuters)

An American Airlines flight arriving at Reagan Airport in Washington collided with a helicopter, after which both the aircraft crashed into the Potomac River. The incident happened in the wee hours of Thursday, according to the Indian time.

The American Airlines Flight 5342 was carrying 64 people, including passengers and crew members, at the time of the crash. At least 28 bodies have been recovered from the river into which both aircraft crashed. Officials said there are likely no survivors from the devastating collision.

“At this point we don’t believe there are any survivors," AFP quoted Washington Fire Chief John Donnelly at a news conference at Reagan Airport, outside the US capital. “We are now at a point where we are switching from a rescue operation to a recovery operation."

The military Blackhawk helicopter was carrying three soldiers.

A massive search and rescue operation was launched into the waters of the Potomac River, soon after the crash was reported.

According to some media reports, 18 bodies had been pulled out of the waters. However, an official confirmation on the number of the deceased was awaited.

Later, Reagan Airport aborted all takeoffs and landings as helicopters from law enforcement agencies across the region flew over the scene in search of survivors.

Inflatable rescue boats were launched into the Potomac River from a point along the George Washington Parkway, just north of the airport.

MANY VIDEOS OF REAGAN AIRPORT PLANE CRASH SURFACE

The collision between the American Airlines flight and the helicopter occurred on a warm winter evening in Washington, with temperatures registering as high as 60 degrees Fahrenheit, following a stretch days earlier of intense cold and ice.

Multiple videos on social media showed different angles of the chopper-jet crash.

A video from an observation camera at the nearby Kennedy Center showed two sets of lights consistent with aircraft appearing to join in a fireball.

Another video showed an almost pitch-black helicopter ramming into a passenger plane, thereby causing an explosion.

A dashcam footage showed the exact moment of the aircraft crash near Reagan Airport.

A video showed helicopters carrying out a search operation over the Potomac River near Reagan Airport.

Another video showed fireboats and emergency personnel responding to the incident.

Later, images showed wreckage of the fuselage from either the plane, or the helicopter.

AUDIO CAPTURES MOMENTS BEFORE AND AFTER PLANE CRASH

Air traffic control audio recorded the final moments before and after the crash. Audio from LiveATC.net, a respected source for in-flight recording, captured the final communications between the three crew members of the helicopter – call sign PAT25 – before it collided with the CRJ700 Bombardier jet carrying 64 passengers and crew.

“PAT25, do you have a CRJ in sight? PAT25, pass behind the CRJ," an air traffic controller said at 8.47 p.m. (ET) on Wednesday (01:47 GMT on Thursday).

Seconds later, another aircraft called in to air traffic control, saying, “Tower, did you see that?" – referring to the crash.

An air traffic controller then redirected planes heading to runway 33 at Reagan Washington Airport to go around.

“Crash, crash, crash, this is an alert three," one of the air traffic controllers can be heard saying in the audio from around the time of the crash.

“I don’t know if you caught earlier what happened, but there was a collision on the approach into 33. We’re going to be shutting down operations for the indefinite future," another controller remarked.

“Both the helicopter and the plane crashed in the river," a third air traffic controller can be heard saying.

“It was probably out in the middle of the river," the controller said.

“I just saw a fireball and then it was just gone. I haven’t seen anything since they hit the river. But it was a CRJ and a helicopter that hit."

FAA’s VERSION ON AMERICAN AIRLINES CRASH

According to the Associated Press, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the midair crash occurred around 9 pm EST when a regional jet that had departed from Wichita, Kansas, collided with a military Blackhawk helicopter while on approach to an airport runway.

It occurred in some of the most tightly controlled and monitored airspace in the world, just over three miles south of the White House and the Capitol.

American Airlines Flight 5342 was inbound to Reagan at an altitude of about 400 feet and a speed of about 140 miles per hour when it suffered a rapid loss of altitude over the Potomac River, according to data from its radio transponder.

The Canadian-made Bombardier CRJ-701 twin-engine jet, manufactured in 2004, can be configured to carry up to 70 passengers.

A few minutes before landing, air traffic controllers asked the arriving commercial jet if it could land on the shorter Runway 33 at Reagan and the pilots said they were able.

Controllers then cleared the plane to land on Runway 33.

Flight tracking sites showed the plane adjust its approach to the new runway.

Flight data also showed the helicopter near the Central Intelligence Agency headquarters in Virginia.

AMERICAN AIRLINES CEO EXPRESSES GRIEF

In a video message released on social media, American Airlines CEO Robert Isom expressed grief over the horrific plane crash in Washington.

“I’d like to express our deep sorrow about these events. This is a difficult day for all of us," Isom said.

“We’re cooperating with the Transportation Safety Board in its investigation and will continue to provide all the information we can," he added.

OFFICIALS ADDRESS MEDIA OVER REAGAN PLANE CRASH

Addressing a press briefing over the American Airlines crash, US Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas suggested that all onboard the plane died. However, officials did not provide a death toll from the collision.

“It’s really hard when you lose probably over 60 Kansans simultaneously," Marshall said, adding, “When one person dies, it’s a tragedy, but when many, many, many people die, it’s an unbearable sorrow."

“It’s a heartbreak beyond measure," he added.

PRESIDENT TRUMP BRIEFED OVER PLANE CRASH

In various social media posts, US President Donald Trump said he had been “fully briefed on this terrible accident" and, referring to the passengers, added, “May God Bless their souls."

“I have been fully briefed on the terrible accident which just took place at Reagon 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," a first statement by President Trump read.

Later, in a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, “The airplane was on a perfect and routine line of approach to the airport. The helicopter was going straight at the airplane for an extended period of time. It is a CLEAR NIGHT, the lights on the plane were blazing, why didn’t the helicopter go up or down, or turn. Why didn’t the control tower tell the helicopter what to do instead of asking if they saw the plane. This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented. NOT GOOD!!!" (sic).

Later, in an X post, Vice-President JD Vance wrote, “Please say a prayer for everyone involved in the mid-air collision near Reagon airport this evening. We’re monitoring the situation, but for now let’s hope for the best."

REAGAN AIRPORT CRASH: AIRCRAFT INVOLVED

According to Reuters, the UH-60 Black Hawk Helicopter, involved in the crash, is one of the most ubiquitous and iconic military helicopters, filling multiple roles for the US military, including air assault, general support, medevac, command and control, and special operations support.

The aircraft was flying with the call sign PAT25 and had three occupants, according to the Aviation Safety Network, a public database of aviation accidents.

More than 5,000 Black Hawks have been built since production began in the mid-1970s.

The American Airlines plane – Bombardier CRJ700, which can seat about 70 people, is a workhorse of regional commercial aviation. There are about 260 of the aircraft in service, according to Cirium, an aviation data company.

The plane was registered N530EA and manufactured in 2010, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The jet was registered to American Airlines but operated by its wholly owned subsidiary, PSA Airlines.

ABOUT REAGAN AIRPORT

Located along the Potomac River, just southwest of the city, Reagan is a popular choice because it’s much closer than the larger Dulles Airport, which is deeper in Virginia.

Depending on the runway being used, flights into Reagan can offer passengers spectacular views of landmarks like the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, the Mall and the US Capitol. It is a postcard-worthy welcome for tourists visiting the city.

News world All 64 Passengers Killed In Washington DC Plane-Helicopter Collision, 28 Bodies Recovered