American Eagle Flight & Black Hawk Helicopter Crash in Washington DC

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On Wednesday evening, there was a catastrophic mid-flight collision involving an American Eagle passenger plane and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter, which happened close to Washington D.C., causing both vehicles to plunge into the Potomac River. This unfortunate incident occurred in the vicinity of Reagan National Airport. As a result, there is now a frenzied search-and-rescue effort taking place as authorities endeavor to locate victims and determine the reason behind the crash.

Here’s more about the crash.

How did the American Eagle flight and Black Hawk helicopter crash?

On Wednesday evening, a devastating accident took place as an American Eagle passenger plane and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter had a midair collision near Reagan National Airport, causing both vehicles to plunge into the Potomac River. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that American Eagle Flight 5342, a regional jet operated by PSA Airlines, was preparing for landing when it struck the Sikorsky H-60 helicopter during its training flight in the sky.

The passenger aircraft took off from Wichita, Kansas, with 60 passengers and 4 crew members aboard. Simultaneously, a Black Hawk helicopter, operated by the Army’s 12th Aviation Battalion based at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, was carrying 3 soldiers. A camera at the Kennedy Center broadcasted live as the collision occurred, depicting an explosion over the river at 8:47 p.m., Eastern Time.

By 6 AM on Thursday, rescue crews had retrieved at least 19 deceased individuals, but no survivors have yet been located. The ongoing search effort has proven difficult due to the harsh weather, powerful water currents, and numerous areas of debris. The District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services described the operation as “exceptionally complex,” adding that responders are battling extremely harsh conditions, including cold temperatures and strong winds. (CBS News report)

After the tragic event, President Donald Trump offered his sympathies and commended the emergency workers. Yet, he also expressed doubt about how the crash occurred, stating through a tweet: “Why weren’t the control tower instructions given to the helicopter instead of asking if they saw the plane? This appears to be a situation that should have been avoided. Not good!!!

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2025-01-30 15:41