Key points
- Leavitt says a military helicopter collided with a regional jet
- The jet can carry up to 78 passengers
- Trump says “This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented”
- Officials say rescue operations are facing “extremely rough” conditions in river
- Pakistan’s premier expresses sadness over midair accident in US
WASHINGTON: A passenger jet from Kansas crashed into Washington’s Potomac River after colliding mid-air with a military helicopter near Reagan National Airport, officials said Wednesday, prompting a major emergency response and grounding all flights.
There was no immediate information about how many people were aboard either aircraft or about casualties, but the plane involved, a Bombardier regional jet, can carry up to 78 passengers.
The Federal Aviation Authority ordered the grounding of all planes at Reagan airport, and Washington’s police said on X that “multiple agencies” were responding to the crash site in the Potomac.
“Collided in midair”
President Donald Trump “has been made aware of this situation and tragically it appears that a military helicopter collided with a regional jet,” Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Fox News.
Police said fireboats had joined the operation on the Potomac River, where any work was complicated by the fact it was dark and close to freezing. Dozens of fire trucks could be seen headed toward the airport.
Tragically it appears that a military helicopter collided with a regional jet.” – Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt
The FAA said a PSA Airlines Bombardier regional jet “collided in midair” with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter as it approached for landing at Reagan at around 9 pm (0200 GMT). The plane had left from Wichita, Kansas.
PSA Airlines is a subsidiary of American Airlines. The Sikorsky H-60, commonly known as the Blackhawk, can carry as many as up to 15 people including crew.
On its website, American Airlines said in a statement: “We’re aware of reports that American Eagle flight 5342, operated by PSA, with service from Wichita, Kansas (ICT) to Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA) has been involved in an incident. We will provide information as it becomes available.”
NOT GOOD!!!”
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said the crash between a US Army helicopter and a passenger jet near Washington “should have been prevented.”
“Why didn’t the control tower tell the helicopter what to do instead of asking if they saw the plane. This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, adding: “NOT GOOD!!!”
Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser told a press briefing early Thursday that the wrecked fuselages of both the US military helicopter and the commercial jet involved in a collision over the Potomac River are lying in the water.
“Extremely rough” conditions
Search efforts by an estimated 300 responding personnel including divers were impeded by the “very dark, very murky” water at near-frigid temperatures, added Washington Fire Chief John Donnelly.
Responders conducting search and rescue operations were facing “extremely rough” conditions in the Potomac River after a passenger jet and US military helicopter collided midair, an official said early Thursday.
High winds, low night-time visibility, cold weather and murky water were combining to make “a very tough condition to dive in” as roughly 300 emergency responders searched the Potomac for any survivors of the crash, Washington fire chief John Donnelly told reporters at Reagan National Airport.
The chief executive of American Airlines expressed “deep sorrow” after one of its aircraft crashed following a collision with a military helicopter over the US capital late Wednesday.
“I’d like to express our deep sorrow about these events,” said CEO Robert Isom in a video statement, adding: “This is a difficult day for all of us.”
Pakistan expresses sadness
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed sadness over the tragic midair accident between a passenger plane and a military helicopter in Washington DC.
In a post on his social media account, the premier said, “Our thoughts and prayers are with President Donald Trump and the American people at this difficult time.”
Deeply saddened by the tragic news of a mid-air accident between a passenger plane and a military helicopter in Washington D.C. Our thoughts and prayers are with @realDonaldTrump and the American people at this difficult time. Our hearts go out to the families of those who have…
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) January 30, 2025
Shehbaz Sharif extended his heartfelt condolences to the families of those who have lost their loved ones and prayed for the safety of the survivors.
