ARLINGTON, Virginia – In a somber operation, authorities and emergency services are focused on recovering bodies after a catastrophic mid-air collision involving an American Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The incident, which took place just before 9 p.m. Wednesday, has led to the suspension of airport operations until at least early Friday morning.
American Eagle Flight 5342, a Bombardier CRJ700 coming from Wichita, Kansas, was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members at the time of impact. The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed the aircraft details, while officials at the scene have shifted focus from rescue to recovery due to the circumstances of the crash.
U.S. Senator Roger Marshall from Kansas, addressing the media at Reagan National Airport, spoke of the profound loss. “When one person dies it’s a tragedy. But when many, many, many people die, it’s an unbearable sorrow. It’s a heartbreak beyond measure,” he said, noting the potential loss of over 60 Kansans in the accident.
The military helicopter involved was a UH-60 Black Hawk from Fort Belvoir, Virginia, with three soldiers on board, as per a U.S. Army official. President Donald Trump, in a statement, confirmed he had been briefed on the incident and expressed his condolences, “I have been fully briefed on the terrible accident. May God Bless their souls. Thank you for the incredible work being done by our first responders.”
The National Transportation Safety Board has deployed investigators to the scene to probe the causes of this disaster, which occurred under dark and cold conditions, complicating recovery efforts. Early reports suggest that visibility issues might have contributed to the collision, with a former pilot suggesting the helicopter could have been “invisible” to the airline pilot.
This tragic event echoes a past incident at Reagan National; on January 13, 1982, an Air Florida jet crashed into a bridge after takeoff, killing over 70 people. The Air Line Pilots Association expressed their grief over the current tragedy, “We are shocked and saddened by the tragic accident at DCA tonight. Our thoughts are with those affected by this tragedy.”
As the community mourns, the focus remains on supporting the recovery operations and providing assistance to the families of the victims. The full scope of this tragedy, including the exact number of casualties, is still being assessed as the investigation unfolds.