Passenger Jet and Military Helicopter Collide Midair Near Washington, DC

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that the American Airlines-operated Flight 5342 had departed from Wichita, Kansas, and was on final approach to Reagan Airport at 9:00 p.m. when the accident occurred. The Black Hawk helicopter was carrying three soldiers, but their status remains unknown.

Emergency Response Underway

Following the crash, all flights at Reagan Airport were grounded, and the FAA announced that the airport would remain closed until at least 5:00 a.m. on Friday.

Emergency responders launched inflatable rescue boats into the dark, near-freezing waters of the Potomac, while police and fire crews deployed light towers from the shore to assist in the search operation. Fireboats and divers joined the effort as authorities worked urgently to locate survivors.

Witness Ari Schulman, who was driving nearby, described seeing a “stream of sparks” and a bright yellow glow as the plane banked sharply before impact. Social media footage showed the moment of collision, followed by a fiery explosion.

Worst Air Disaster in Years?

If fatalities are confirmed, this would mark the first deadly U.S. commercial airline crash since 2009, when Colgan Air Flight 3407 crashed in Buffalo, New York, killing all 49 people on board.