Plane Collides With Helicopter Mid-Air; Trump Monitors Crash

American Airlines Flight 5342 and a Black Hawk Helicopter crashed in a horrific mid-air collision over the Potomac River near Washington.

The passenger plane was carrying 60 passengers and crew, according to some media reports.

According to the reports of the Federal Aviation Administration the aircraft collided around 9 PM on Wednesday as a passenger jet was approaching Runway 33 at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

“A PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet collided in midair with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter while on approach to Runway 33 at Reagan Washington National Airport around 9 p.m. local time. PSA was operating as Flight 5342 for American Airlines. It departed from Wichita, Kansas. The FAA and NTSB will investigate. The NTSB will lead the investigation,” the FAA said in a statement.

A plane arriving from Wichita, Kansas, crashed near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) on Tuesday. Emergency response teams, including the Metropolitan Police and the District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department, quickly launched search and rescue efforts in the Potomac River. Rescue boats were deployed to assist in locating potential survivors.

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To facilitate the emergency response, all flights at DCA were temporarily halted. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has initiated a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the crash.

Reagan Airport updated the public on X (formerly Twitter): “All takeoffs and landings have been halted at DCA. Emergency personnel is responding to an aircraft incident on the airfield. The terminal remains open. Will update.”

Kansas Senator Jerry Moran expressed concern after learning the plane was inbound from his state. “Learning that a plane inbound from Kansas was involved in a crash at DCA. I am in contact with the authorities. Please join me in praying for all involved,” he wrote on X.

Authorities have asked the public to avoid the area to ensure emergency teams can work efficiently. The incident has sparked a large response from multiple agencies, who are working together to manage the situation and provide assistance.

Rescue operations are ongoing, and more information will be provided as it becomes available.

Notably, Newly elected US President Donald Trump said that he is monitoring the situation and taking updates.

“I have been fully briefed on the terrible accident that just took place at Reagan National 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,” the President’s office said in a statement.

“Learning that a plane inbound from Kansas was involved in a crash at DCA. I am in contact with authorities. Please join me in praying for all involved,” Trump said in a post on X.