Midair collision between American Eagle flight and Army Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport leaves no survivors
American Eagle Flight 5342, a PSA Airlines-operated American Airlines aircraft, collided midair with an Army Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C. Officials confirmed Thursday that all passengers and crew members aboard the aircraft, as well as the three service members on the helicopter, were likely killed in the crash. The search-and-rescue teams have since pivoted to recovery operations.
The American Eagle flight, traveling from Wichita to Washington D.C., was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members at the time of the collision. The helicopter, which was on a routine training mission, had three service members onboard. The collision occurred around 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday evening, and emergency teams arrived at the scene shortly after.
At a news conference held Thursday morning, D.C. Fire Chief John Donnelly shared grim news, stating, “At this point, we don’t believe there are any survivors from this accident.” He further confirmed that rescue teams had already recovered 27 bodies from the plane and one from the helicopter. Due to the severity of the impact and the widespread wreckage, recovery efforts have now taken precedence over search-and-rescue operations.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched investigations to determine the cause of the crash. Initial reports suggest that the collision occurred in restricted airspace near the airport, but further investigation will be required to determine how the two aircraft ended up in such close proximity.
The collision has raised serious questions about the safety protocols in place for both commercial and military aircraft operating near busy airports. The NTSB is expected to release further details as the investigation continues.
President Donald Trump is scheduled to hold a news briefing regarding the crash on Thursday at 11 a.m. In the meantime, families of the victims are beginning to be notified, and condolences are pouring in from across the nation. Local authorities are working to ensure that the bodies of those killed are recovered and identified as soon as possible.
The incident is a tragic reminder of the dangers posed by the complex operations of both civilian and military air traffic near major metropolitan areas. As the investigation continues, more details about the crash and the lives lost will undoubtedly emerge.
