Saturday, February 8, 2025

AA plane and helicopter collide near Washington

A mid-air collision between an American Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 and a U.S. Army Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter occurred near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, on 29 January 2025 at approximately 9:00 p.m. local time.

The passenger jet, operating as Flight AA5342 from Wichita, Kansas, was carrying 64 people, including 60 passengers and four crew members. The military helicopter had three personnel on board. Following the collision, both aircraft crashed into the Potomac River.

Authorities have confirmed that there are no expected survivors from either aircraft. Recovery operations are ongoing, with teams focused on locating and identifying victims.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), U.S. Department of Defense, and U.S. Army have launched investigations into the cause of the crash. Preliminary reports suggest potential issues related to air traffic control staffing at the time of the incident.

American Airlines CEO, Robert Isom, provided an update on Flight 5342 before departing to Washington, D.C, saying the aircraft was operated by PSA airlines, a subsidiary of American Airlines, and departed from Wichita, Kansas. He went on to express his concern about the events taking place and that the company is now focusing on the needs of those involved, the first responders and their loved ones.

“Flight 5342 was under the command of 4 crew members and carried 60 passengers for a total of 64 people on board. We are actively working with local state and federal authorities on emergency response efforts and the American Airlines care team has been activated to assist our passengers and their families,” Isom said.

Staff Writer
Staff Writer
Travel Monitor has been delivering the First News of the Day to the travel industry since 2009 and continues the tradition of only engaging experienced writers, editors and other professionals to source and create Travel Monitor content.

Popular Articles