No survivors have been found following the mid-air collision of American Eagle flight 5342 and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter on Wednesday evening near Reagan National Airport. The collision, which occurred at approximately 9 p.m. local time, resulted in both aircraft crashing into the Potomac River.
The flight, operated by PSA Airlines using a Bombardier CRJ-700 regional jet, carried 60 passengers and four crew members. The U.S. Army confirmed the helicopter involved was a Black Hawk UH-60, with three soldiers on board, engaged in a training flight at the time of the incident.
According to a report by The Aviation Herald, the Bombardier CRJ-701ER, registered as N709PS, was initially on approach to Runway 01 at Reagan National Airport. The flight crew accepted a request from air traffic control to land on Runway 33 instead and was subsequently cleared for landing on the revised runway. The collision occurred approximately 0.6 nautical miles from the runway threshold.
Video footage of the incident, as reported by CNN, shows a large fireball erupting upon impact. Eyewitness accounts detailed a sudden burst of sparks followed by the aircraft rolling beyond 90 degrees before plunging into the water.
Rescue efforts were immediately launched, involving multiple agencies and resources. However, as of 6 a.m. Thursday, authorities confirmed that no survivors had been found, according to a law enforcement source who spoke with CNN. The difficult conditions on the river, described as cold and windy, hampered rescue efforts. The passenger jet reportedly broke into pieces upon impact, with the helicopter located nearby in the water.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the collision and stated that both the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will investigate the incident. The NTSB will lead the investigation.
“Our concern is for the passengers and crew on board the aircraft,” American Airlines stated in a press release issued Wednesday night. “We are in contact with authorities and assisting with emergency response efforts.”
Reagan National Airport remains closed as of Thursday morning, with officials stating the closure will last until at least 11 a.m. ET. A law enforcement source described a “really somber mood” at the rescue scene and at the airport, where family members of the victims have gathered.
The U.S. Army confirmed that the Black Hawk UH-60 involved in the collision departed from Fort Belvoir, Virginia. The helicopter was on a routine training mission at the time.
Meanwhile, U.S. Figure Skating confirmed to CNN that several members of the community were passengers on the flight. Russian state news agency TASS reported that two world-champion Russian figure skaters were among the passengers.
President Donald Trump commented on the incident via social media, describing it as “a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented.”
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