A jet from Kansas, USA, carrying approximately 60 passengers, crashed into the Potomac River near Washington, D.C., after a mid-air collision with a military helicopter near Reagan National Airport today. Reports indicate that 18 bodies have been recovered from the river, while rescue operations continue and all airport flights remain grounded.
The FAA stated that PSA Airlines Flight 5342 was approaching the airport for landing when it encountered a US Army helicopter in the area. According to the Pentagon, the helicopter was a UH-60 Black Hawk from Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Heather Chairez, media chief for Joint Task Force–National Capital Region, confirmed that it was conducting a training flight at the time of the crash.
Some 300 first responders are on the scene, searching freezing waters for survivors. They used inflatable rescue boats and set up light towers from the shore to illuminate the area, where searchlights were also used. The plane and the helicopter were both retrieved from the water.
The accident marks the first commercial passenger jet crash in the United States since 2009. The US Air Force is reportedly investigating the cause of the incident, but no details about possible causes were immediately available.
One possibility is that the plane and the helicopter used different air bands for communication. This problem could have prevented the helicopter pilot from hearing warnings from air traffic control. Another possible factor is that the helicopter was on a mission in the same highly congested, tightly restricted airspace where the passenger plane was flying, which could have created turbulence or other hazards for both aircraft.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday morning that President Donald Trump has been briefed on the incident and is monitoring it. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, meanwhile, said in a post on X that “all available DHS resources” are being deployed to assist in the search and recovery operation.
A video of the crash, which quickly went viral on social media, captured the moment the passenger jet collided with the military helicopter. The footage shows the passenger jet’s tail hitting the helicopter, which crashes into the water. The video is disturbing and jarring to watch, but it does not show any sign of distress on the part of either pilot.
The Pentagon says it is “actively monitoring the situation” and “poised to assist if needed.” Incoming Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who has been sworn in just this week, told reporters at a somber news conference at the airport that he would commit every resource to the investigation into the accident. The FBI and the National Transportation Safety Board also assist with the investigation. The Federal Aviation Administration has extended the airport closure until 5 a.m. ET on Friday. The airport is the central hub for air travel in the nation’s capital.