A regional jet operated by American Airlines collided midair with a helicopter while landing at Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday night, according to the Associated Press.
Search crews have recovered 18 bodies, with no survivors found so far, CBS News reported.
The Federal Aviation Administration stated that the collision occurred around 9 p.m. ET when the regional jet, which had taken off from Wichita, Kansas, struck a military Black Hawk helicopter as it approached the airport runway.
According to CBS News, American Airlines Flight 5342 was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members. An official told CBS that the Black Hawk Sikorsky H-60 had three U.S. Army soldiers on board.
Data from the aircraft’s radio transponder indicated that the flight experienced a rapid loss of altitude over the Potomac River.
In response to the incident, Ronald Reagan Airport has suspended all take-offs and landings, the airport operator announced in a post on X.
The Pentagon confirmed that the helicopter had departed from Fort Belvoir, Virginia, and an official stated that it was on a training flight, as reported by AP.
A search and rescue operation is underway near the Potomac River, involving the DC Fire Department, police officials, and the U.S. Coast Guard. During a press conference, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser noted that first responders were working in “dark and cold conditions.”
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom expressed “deep sorrow” over the crash and stated that the airline is “fully cooperating” with the National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation.
U.S. President Donald Trump released a statement saying, “I have been fully briefed on the terrible accident at Reagan National Airport. May God bless their souls. Thank you to our incredible first responders. I am monitoring the situation and will provide updates as they arise.”
Later, Trump posted on TruthSocial, questioning why the plane had its lights on despite clear weather and why air traffic control did not direct the helicopter properly.
“This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented. NOT GOOD!” he wrote.
Newly confirmed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the Pentagon is “actively monitoring” the situation. Meanwhile, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said he had spoken with the President and confirmed that the Department of Transportation was coordinating with the mayor and first responders to provide support.
U.S. Senator Ted Cruz acknowledged that fatalities had occurred but noted that the total number of people on board was still unclear. “While we don’t yet know how many on board were lost, we know there are fatalities,” Cruz wrote on X.
