On January 29, 2025, a Bombardier CRJ701ER airliner operating as PSA Airlines Flight 5342 (marketed as American Eagle Flight 5342 on behalf of American Airlines) collided with a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter of the United States Army while on final approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington County, Virginia.

Both aircraft crashed into the Potomac River after the mid-air collision

There were 64 people (60 passengers and 4 crew) aboard the plane and 3 people (all crew) aboard the helicopter.

1. Spencer Lane 
2. Christine Lane 
3. Evgenia Shishkova 
4. Vadim Naumov
5. Jinna Han
6. Jin Han
7. Asra Hussain 
8. Inna Volyanskaya
9. Samuel Lilley - First Officer
10. Jonathan Campos - Captain 
11. Danasia Elder - Flight Attendant 
12. Ian Epstein - Flight Attendant 
13. Ryan O'Hara - Black Hawk Crew
14. Andrew Eaves - Black Hawk Crew 
15. Michael Stovall 
16. Jesse Pitcher 
17. Wendy Shaffer 
18. Sean Kay
19. Julia Kay 
20. Angela Yang
21. Lily Yang 
22. Alexandr Kisanov 
23. Grace Maxwell 
24. Kiah Duggins 
25. Everly Livingston,
26. Alydia Livingston,
27. Donna Livingston
28. Peter Livingston 
29. Sarah Lee Best
30. Elizabeth Keys
31. CoryHaynos,
32. Roger Haynos,
33. Stephanie Haynos
34. Casey Crafton 
35. Brielle Beyer
36. Justyna Magdalena Beyer 
37. Vikesh Patel 
38. Pergentino N. Malabed 
39. Olivia Eve Ter 
40. Franco Aparicio 
41. Luciano Aparicio 
42. Eddie Zhou 
43. Steve Johnson 
44. Lindsey Fields 
45. Chris Collins
46. Melissa Nicandri  

The accident is the first fatal accident for American Airlines since Flight 587 on November 12, 2001;

 the first fatal US-registered civilian airliner crash in the United States since Colgan Air Flight 3407 on February 12, 2009;

 the first fatal airliner crash in the United States since Asiana Airlines Flight 214 on July 6, 2013; and the first major accident involving a civilian airliner in 2025.

Background

Aircraft

The aircraft operating as American Eagle Flight 5342, manufactured in September 2004, was a 20-year-old Bombardier CRJ-701ER, a regional jet commonly used for short- to medium-haul flights. The aircraft, which bore registration number N709PS, had been transferred to American Eagle in December 2013, when US Airways and American Airlines merged.

 The flight, operated by PSA Airlines, had originated in Wichita, Kansas, and was en route to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).

The helicopter was a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk of the United States Army registered as 00-26860; its callsign, PAT25, signifies a Priority Air Transport flight for executive or senior U.S. officials.

The helicopter had flown from Fort Belvoir, Virginia, and was carrying a crew of three soldiers; there were no executive or senior officials aboard.

 Officials with Joint Task Force–National Capital Region said that the helicopter belonged to B Company of the 12th Aviation Battalion and was on a training flight at the time of the crash.

Passengers and crew

The airliner was carrying 60 passengers and 4 crew members, and the helicopter was carrying a crew of 3 military personnel.

Several passengers on Flight 5342 were U.S. Figure Skating athletes, personnel, and family members returning from a national development camp conducted in tandem with the U.S. figure skating championships in Wichita.

These included Russian 1994 world pairs figure skating champions turned coaches, Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov.

Near misses See also: List of US aircraft near-miss incidents since 2023

Prior to the accident, multiple near misses were reported at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) in 2024. These included an incident in April 2024 between a JetBlue aircraft and a Southwest Airlines flight, and a May 2024 incident involving an aborted takeoff by an American Airlines aircraft to avoid a collision with a private jet.

 The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) had brought attention to and investigated several of these incidents at Washington National Airport and several other national airports. This included a February 2023 near-collision between a FedEx Boeing 767 and a Southwest Airlines flight in Austin, Texas, where both aircraft came within roughly 115 feet (35 m) of each other.

 The Federal Aviation Administration had planned to install new air traffic control technology to warn controllers of collision risks between aircraft, to increase hiring, and to address increased fatigue felt by controllers. Lawmakers had set up hearings meant to speed up the implementation of these measures.

Accident

Less than 30 seconds before the collision, an air traffic controller asked the helicopter crew whether they had Flight 5342 in sight. A crew member replied that they could see the airliner, and requested "visual separation" from the plane; this was approved by the controllers.

 A few seconds before the collision, the air traffic controller ordered the helicopter to pass behind Flight 5342.

At 8:47:42 p.m. EST, Flight 5342 collided with the Black Hawk, which exploded, then crashed into the middle of the Potomac River. Flight 5342's radio transponder ceased transmitting about 2,400 ft (730 m) short of runway 33.

 The incident was captured by a webcam at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Another video shows a brief trail of fire.[22] The airplane "split in half" in the river, while the helicopter crashed in the river upside down near the crashed plane.

A pilot in an uninvolved aircraft confirmed seeing the crash to an air traffic controller, and reported seeing flares from the side of the Potomac opposite to them as they were on short final.

Victims

Within three hours of the collision, law enforcement officials and sources confirmed deaths.

 CBS News reported that at least 18 bodies had been recovered as of 11:30 p.m.

 As of approximately 12:30 a.m., there were no survivors reported, and CNN described the search and rescue operations as "becoming more grim."

Aftermath

Flight paths of the UH-60 and the American Eagle flight, with approximate collision location

Moments after the collision, DCA air traffic controllers began routing aircraft to nearby airports, including Dulles International Airport and Baltimore/Washington International Airport. At least 3 flights were diverted to BWI.

 Some flights were diverted as far away as Richmond International Airport.[27] DCA suspended all takeoffs and landings[5][28] and closed the airport until at least 11 a.m. on January 30.

The collision was first reported to Metropolitan Police at 8:53 p.m.

 Emergency personnel were dispatched to the scene, including ones from the District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department. Fireboats were sent to search for victims and survivors.[5] Maryland State Police sent divers to the crash site.

 Aircraft were sent by the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia, United States Park Police, Maryland Natural Resources Police, Prince George's County Police Department, and Fairfax County Police Department.[citation needed]

The airliner was submerged in eight feet (2.4 m) of water. Emergency responses were hampered by cold temperatures, strong winds, and ice; the closest buoy to the crash site recorded a 35 °F (2 °C) water temperature. Diving operations were complicated by the lack of lighting and murkiness of the water. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority dispatched "warming buses" and extended Silver Line service to help relief efforts.

 Several commercial yachts owned by CityCruise sailed from Washington Sailing Marina to the crash site to help search and rescue operations.

Investigations

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA),[31] the United States Department of Defense, and the U.S. Army will investigate the collision.

Federal Bureau of Investigation officials said the agency would help with response efforts, and that no indications of terrorism or criminality were apparent.

Responses

Aviation

American Airlines launched a hotline for family members of passengers on Flight 5342. The NTSB prepared an investigation team to send to the site of the accident.[13] The Association of Flight Attendants reported that two of its members were on Flight 5342.

 Robert Isom, the CEO of American Airlines, released a video statement about the accident.

Federal

President Donald Trump, who was briefed on the collision shortly after it occurred, released a statement calling the crash a "terrible accident," thanking emergency responders, and saying of the victims, "May God Bless their souls."

 Trump then said on Truth Social that "This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented. NOT GOOD!!!"

 Vice president JD Vance asked for "thoughts and prayers." 

 Sean Duffy, who had been sworn in as Secretary of Transportation the previous day, said that he was monitoring developments from FAA headquarters. Kansas Senators Roger Marshall and Jerry Moran said that they were communicating with authorities about the collision.

Don Beyer, U.S. representative for Virginia's 8th congressional district, where the airport is located, said he was in contact with airport officials about the crash.