Midair Collision Near Washington, DC: American Airlines Plane in route to Kansas and Black Hawk Helicopter Crash into Potomac
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Washington, DC – A large-scale search and recovery operation is underway after an American Airlines passenger jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter on a training flight collided midair near Reagan National Airport, sending both aircraft into the icy waters of the Potomac River. Authorities have confirmed fatalities, though no survivors have been located.
American Airlines Flight 5342, which had departed from Wichita, Kansas, was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members when it crashed. The Black Hawk helicopter, part of a military training exercise, had three soldiers on board. Officials say debris from both aircraft is scattered across the river, complicating recovery efforts.
According to DC Fire and EMS Chief John A. Donnelly Sr., more than 300 first responders, including specialized FBI dive teams, are searching the river under treacherous conditions. Authorities estimate the recovery process could take several days.
Reagan National Airport is expected to remain closed until at least 11 a.m. ET Thursday. Flights into Washington have been redirected to Dulles International Airport. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the crash.
In Wichita, where Flight 5342 originated, a citywide prayer vigil has been planned for Thursday at noon CT at the Wichita City Council Chambers. The Kansas Aviation Museum has invited the community to gather in support of those affected, calling the collision an “enormous tragedy.”
Officials say retrieving the aircrafts’ black boxes will be crucial in understanding what led to the fatal collision. Until then, the search continues in the frigid waters of the Potomac.
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