US military helicopter collides with passenger jet in Washington DC (VIDEOS)

A Bombardier CRJ700 with 64 people on board has crashed into the river after a midair collision with a US Army Black Hawk

A regional passenger jet operated by the American Airlines’ subsidiary has collided midair with a US military helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) on Wednesday night, prompting the suspension of all flights and a large-scale emergency response. 

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that a PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700, operating American Eagle Flight 5342 en route from Wichita, Kansas, was on approach to Runway 33 at Reagan National when it collided with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter around 9pm local time.

There were 60 passengers and four crew members on board the aircraft, according to American Airlines. The US Army Black Hawk helicopter had a crew of three and was not carrying any VIPs, a US defense official told CNN. The exact number of casualties remains unclear, as emergency personnel from multiple agencies continue the search for possible survivors.

Webcam at the Kennedy Center caught an explosion mid-air across the Potomac. https://t.co/v75sxitpH6 pic.twitter.com/HInYdhBYs5

— Alejandro Alvarez (@aletweetsnews) January 30, 2025

“We are deploying every available US Coast Guard resource for search and rescue efforts in this horrific incident at DCA,” newly-appointed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said.