The Washington Air Crash close Reagan National shook the United States. The PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional aircraft, serving American Airlines Flight 5342, collided in the air with the UH-60 Black Hawk military helicopter. The tragedy occurred during the approach to landing on runway 33 around 21:00 local time. There were 60 passengers and a crew of 4 on board. The rescue action continues, and the wreckage is located in the Potomac River, close the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge.
Three fast facts:
- The disaster occurred during the approach to landing at Reagan National Airport.
- There were 64 people on board the aircraft, including 4 crew members.
- The FAA, NTSB and Pentagon are investigating the causes of the collision.
Air crash in Washington. Tragedy and rescue
Federal and local services immediately embarked on rescue action. D.C. Fire and EMS Chief John A. Donnelly reported that 300 rescuers were active in the operation. Due to hard weather conditions, they are highly demanding. The U.S. Coast defender besides joined the action, whose units are searching the water around the wreckage.
The city authorities and national representatives, including the Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser and Transport Secretary Sean Duffy, confirmed that the situation is ‘highly complicated’. The full number of victims and the condition of persons on board has not yet been revealed.
Read more: F-35 disaster in Alaska. The pilot managed to eject.
A passenger plan and chopper have collided in the skis above Washington DC.
A web camera shot from the Kennedy Center shown a flash of light mid-air across the Potomac River around 8.47pm local time.https://t.co/giM6v2ky4Jpic.twitter.com/LNGGlWLSIF
BREAKING: Footage of air collision over Washington DC pic.twitter.com/GIqRAaPac3
— The Spectator Index (@spectatorindex) January 30, 2025Investigation under the supervision of the Pentagon
Both the national Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transport Safety Council (NTSB) began an investigation into the tragedy. The NTSB has sent a peculiar ‘go-team’ to the site, a squad of aviation disaster experts.
Defense Minister Pete Hegseth reported that the Pentagon and the military were involved.
An absolute tragedy. We pray for all the victims and their families – he wrote on platform X.
Military authorities are investigating why a Black Hawk chopper was on the approach way to landing a passenger aircraft.
American Airlines Response
Robert Isom, CEO of American Airlines, assured that airlines full cooperate with investigative authorities. He stressed that support for passenger and crew families is now the most crucial priority.
Our crisis squad was activated to aid close victims," said Isom in Fox News. The airline has launched a peculiar hotline for the families of flight 5342 passengers. They can be contacted at 1-800-679-8215.
So far, there's no authoritative evidence of any survivors. Paramedics focus on extracting bodies and securing the wreckage.
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