Midair Collision at Reagan National Airport : Search for Survivors Continues
Hundreds of first responders are searching for survivors in the frigid waters of the Potomac River after an American Airlines passenger plane collided midair with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. Emergency personnel are battling dark and icy conditions, with officials warning that recovery efforts may take days.
Law enforcement sources have confirmed fatalities, though the exact number remains unclear, and no survivors have been found so far. The crash involved 64 people in total—60 passengers and four crew members aboard the American Airlines flight, and three soldiers in the Army helicopter.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) identified the passenger plane as American Airlines Flight 5342, a Bombardier CRJ700 traveling from Wichita, Kansas. It was on approach to Reagan National when it collided with the military helicopter, which was conducting a training flight.
A video captured the moment of impact, showing a fiery explosion in the night sky. The crash prompted the closure of all takeoffs and landings at the airport until Thursday morning. Authorities are investigating the circumstances of the collision, which could become one of the deadliest U.S. air disasters in decades.
President Donald Trump said he was “fully briefed” on the accident and expressed his condolences, while Vice President JD Vance called for prayers for those involved. The National Weather Service reported that the Potomac River’s near-freezing temperatures pose significant risks for both survivors and rescuers, with hypothermia setting in within minutes.
Emergency teams continue to comb the crash site, where debris from the wreckage remains scattered in the murky water. American Airlines has set up a support center for victims’ families, and officials have vowed to release further details as the investigation unfolds.
