It’s a terrifying disaster.
A major search and rescue operation was launched after a midair collision between a PSA Airlines regional jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, on Wednesday evening. The incident occurred around 9 p.m. local time as the Bombardier CRJ700, operating as Flight 5342 for American Airlines, was approaching the airport. The collision involved a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, which was on a training flight. At the time of the crash, there were 60 passengers and four crew members on the regional jet, while three soldiers were aboard the helicopter.
Following the accident, President Donald Trump expressed his condolences and confirmed that he was being kept informed of the situation. American Airlines stated that they were in contact with authorities and providing assistance with emergency efforts. The Army confirmed that the helicopter involved was from the Bravo Company, 12th Aviation Battalion, stationed at Fort Belvoir. The incident prompted a large response from emergency services, with approximately 300 responders working at the scene, including firefighters and Coast Guard resources.
Flight operations at Reagan National Airport were temporarily halted but were scheduled to resume the following morning. At the time of the crash, weather conditions were clear with good visibility, and air traffic controllers had cleared the CRJ700 for landing on Runway 33. Audio recordings from the control tower revealed that the helicopter and the commercial jet had been in communication before the crash, though it was unclear why the collision occurred. The incident has raised questions about air traffic control procedures and pilot responses.
The crash prompted reactions from several public officials, including Vice President JD Vance, who urged people to remain hopeful and pray for those involved. American Airlines CEO Robert Isom confirmed that the airline’s team was heading to the site and set up a helpline for concerned families. The collision marked the first fatal crash involving a U.S. commercial flight since 2009, when Colgan Air Flight 3407 crashed near Buffalo, New York, killing all on board.
As the investigation into the cause of the crash continues, lawmakers and local officials have expressed their concern over the tragedy. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem pledged full support to the ongoing rescue and investigation efforts. The FBI’s National Capital Response Squad has also been assisting with the investigation.
