There are reports of a regional jet and a helicopter colliding in the vicinity of National Airport. A webcam at the Kennedy center appears to have filmed the collision as it occurred. Will continue to update this post as new information is received.
The flight was AA5342 inbound from Wichita, a CRJ700 operated by PSA Airlines which reports say crashed into the Potomac. There are no details about the origin of the helicopter at this time other than allegedly, the US Army has confirmed it was one of theirs. Rescue and recovery is underway.
The FAA issued a statement: A PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet collided in midair with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter while on approach to Runway 33 at Reagan Washington National Airport around 9 p.m. local time. PSA was operating as Flight 5342 for American Airlines. It departed from Wichita, Kansas.
The last fatal aircraft accident at DCA airport we can think of was Air Florida Flight 90, in 1982, which was due icing during a major snowstorm. By all reports, tonight was a clear night in the Washington area. The water in the Potomac this evening is 35 degrees, and will drop throughout the evening. There is a serious danger of hypothermia if survivors, if any, aren’t located quickly. The last fatal commercial crash in the U.S was the Colgan Air Crash in 2009.
Mid Air Collisions in the modern age between planes are exceedingly rare after various systems were put into place to prevent them. We believe this to be the first major airplane crash in the United States in 16 years, and the first major midair collision in nearly 60 years.
Preliminary reports as of 10:40 are that the helicopter is believed to be callsign PAT25(for Priority Air Transport), an Army Transport helicopter, A Blackhawk out of Fort Belvoir and are usually used for VIP transport and the Army, according to the New York Times live blog, has stated no Senior Army officials were onboard.
The airport will be closed until, as of reports this evening, until Friday morning.
Mentions