An American Airlines regional jet carrying 64 people collided mid-air with an Army Black Hawk helicopter on Wednesday evening before both aircraft crashed into the Potomac River, according to federal officials.
The helicopter was flying with a crew of three and had no senior Army officials onboard, officials said.
Kansas senator Roger Marshall told a briefing that it appeared unlikely there would be any survivors from the midair crash. He told reporters on Wednesday night that “we probably lost 60 Kansans tonight”.
The incident completed halted flights in and out of Washington D.C.’s Ronald Reagan National Airport. The airport has been closed until at least 11am Thursday.
Video from an observation camera at the nearby Kennedy Center shows two sets of lights consistent with separate aircraft appearing to conjoin in a fireball.
President Donald Trump said in a statement: "I have been fully briefed on the terrible accident which just took place at Reagan National Airport. May God Bless their souls.”
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom said he was heading to Washington, DC following the crash.
Key Points
- Plane crash near Ronald Reagan airport in Washington
- Casualties confirmed in the midair crash
- Kansas senator says ‘we probably lost 60 Kansans tonight’
- Trump prays for those in Washington plane crash
- American Airlines CEO headed to Washington DC following midair crash
Kansas senator says ‘we probably lost 60 Kansans tonight’
06:16
,
Maroosha Muzaffar
Kansas senator Roger Marshall told a briefing that it appeared unlikely there would be any survivors from the midair crash.
He told reporters on Wednesday night that “we probably lost 60 Kansans tonight”.
The American Airlines flight was carrying 64 people and was en route from Wichita, Kansas to Washington DC when it crashed, officials confirmed.
They said there were three people on board the military helicopter that also came down in the crash.
Authorities said rescue efforts are ongoing at the site of the crash and they could not provide further details until the morning.
Donald Trump suggests midair crash could have been prevented
05:53
,
Maroosha Muzaffar
In a post on social media, Donald Trump questioned why the Black Hawk helicopter didn’t take evasive action and why the control tower didn’t intervene sooner.
In a post on Truth Social, Mr Trump suggested that the situation should have been prevented.
He wrote: “The airplane was on a perfect and routine line of approach to the airport. The helicopter was going straight at the airplane for an extended period of time. It is a CLEAR NIGHT, the lights on the plane were blazing, why didn’t the helicopter go up or down, or turn. Why didn’t the control tower tell the helicopter what to do instead of asking if they saw the plane. This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented. NOT GOOD!!!”
American Airlines CEO headed to Washington DC following midair crash
05:45
,
Maroosha Muzaffar
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom is heading to Washington, DC following the crash between a passenger plane and a Black Hawk helicopter.
“Members of our Go Team will be on their way to Washington DC and I’ll be heading there shortly as well,” Isom said in a video message.
“This is a difficult day for all of us at American Airlines,” he said.
The airline said in a statement: “If you believe you may have loved ones on board Flight 5342, call American Airlines toll-free at 800-679-8215. Those calling from outside the U.S. can visit news.aa.com for additional phone numbers. Family members in Canada, Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands can call 800-679-8215 directly.”
'The helicopter and the plane crashed in the river': Audio from air traffic control describes disaster over Potomac
05:42
,
Maroosha Muzaffar
Air traffic control watched in horror on Wednesday night as a passenger jet and a U.S. military helicopter collided near Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington and plunged into the nearby Potomac River.
"The accident happened in the river," a dispatcher said in audio obtained by CBS News. "Both the helicopter and the plane crashed in the river."
Eyewitnesses described the crash creating an explosion visible in the night sky.
“It looked to me like a giant Roman candle, sparks shooting from the head of the plane down to the tail. I saw that for about two seconds,” bystander Ari Schulman told NBC Washington.
Video from a camera at the nearby Kennedy Center appeared to show the aircraft colliding and creating a fireball.
Read the full report here:
American Airlines CEO briefs after plane carrying 60 crashes into army helicopter
05:36
,
Maroosha Muzaffar
'I am praying someone is pulling her out of the river'
05:29
,
Maroosha Muzaffar
A distressed man waiting for his wife, who was travelling on the American Airlines plane, at the Reagan Washington National Airport told CBS News that he was praying that his wife was safe after the crash.
Hamaad Raza’s wife was onboard the American Airlines flight when he learned of the crash.
He told the outlet: “She texted me that she was landing in 20 minutes. I am just praying someone is pulling her out of the river right now.”
Black Hawk helicopter had a crew of three on board
05:20
,
Maroosha Muzaffar
According to a US defence official, the US Army Black Hawk helicopter involved in the collision with the American Airlines aircraft had a crew of three and was not carrying any VIPs.
The helicopter had taken off from Fort Belvoir, an Army post in Virginia.
A US Army official told CNN: “We can confirm that the aircraft involved in tonight’s incident was an Army UH-60 helicopter out of Fort Belvoir, Virginia. We are working with local officials and will provide additional information once it becomes available.”
In pictures: Hunt for survivors in Potomac River
05:15
,
Maroosha Muzaffar
FBI helping with the investigation
05:10
,
Maroosha Muzaffar
In a statement issued on Wednesday night, the FBI said that the agency is responding to the midair collision between an American Airlines plane and a Black Hawk helicopter.
“The FBI Washington Field Office’s National Capital Response Squad is responding to an aviation incident at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in support of our law enforcement and public safety partners. Please direct questions regarding this incident to the National Transportation Safety Board,” it said in the statement.
Crashed plane split in half in Potomac River
05:01
,
Maroosha Muzaffar
The American Airlines plane involved in the crash is split in half in the Potomac River, BBC News reported, with boats and divers actively searching for survivors.
The Black Hawk helicopter involved in the collision is reportedly upside down in the water, located near the plane. This is making rescue efforts difficult.
Sources have confirmed casualties in the midair collision between the American Airlines plane and the Black Hawk helicopter on Wednesday night.
The helicopter was on routine training flight at the time of the incident.
There were 64 people on board the American Airlines plane en route from Wichita, Kansas to Washington, DC.
Casualties confirmed in the midair crash
04:47
,
Maroosha Muzaffar
A law enforcement source has confirmed fatalities in the midair collision between a plane and a Black Hawk helicopter near Washington, DC, according to CNN.
Rescuers have not yet found any survivors, but search efforts are ongoing.
Black Hawk helicopter was engaged in routine training flight at the time of crash
04:46
,
Maroosha Muzaffar
The Black Hawk helicopter involved in the crash with an American Airlines plane on Wednesday night was conducting a routine training flight at the time of the incident, according to Heather Chairez, media chief for the Joint Task Force-National Capital Region.
In a statement to CNN, Chairez confirmed that the military aircraft was engaged in standard operational exercises when it collided with the passenger jet near Ronald Reagan National Airport.
President Trump briefed about 'terrible accident'
04:33
,
Maroosha Muzaffar
Donald Trump said he has been briefed about the “terrible accident” involving an American Airlines regional jet from Wichita, Kansas, carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, and a military Blackhawk helicopter.
In a statement on Wednesday night, Mr Trump thanked first responders for their “incredible work” and said that he was “monitoring the situation and will provide more details as they arise”.
“May God Bless their souls,” he added.
There has been no word on the number of casualties so far.
American Airlines confirms plane was en route from Wichita to DC
04:32
,
Maroosha Muzaffar
The American Airlines plane involved in the crash on Wednesday evening was en route from Wichita, Kansas to Washington, DC, the airline confirmed in a statement.
It also confirmed that 60 passengers and four crew members were onboard the flight.
“American Eagle Flight 5342 en route from Wichita, Kansas (ICT), to Washington, D.C. (DCA) was involved in an accident at DCA. The flight was operated by PSA Airlines with a CRJ-700,” the spokesperson said.
“There were 60 passengers and four crew members on board the aircraft.
“Our concern is for the passengers and crew on board the aircraft. We are in contact with authorities and assisting with emergency response efforts.”
Flight that crashed had 64 onboard: American Airlines
04:11
,
Josh Marcus
American Airlines has shared this update on the passengers inside the Washington-bound jet that collided with a military helicopter on Wednesday evening outside of Ronald Reagan airport.
“There were 60 passengers and four crew members on board the aircraft,” the airline wrote in a statement. “Our concern is for the passengers and crew on board the aircraft. We are in contact with authorities and assisting with emergency response efforts.”
Army helicopter wasn't carrying senior officers: military
04:09
,
Josh Marcus
The Army Black Hawk helicopter involved in this evening’s crash had a crew of three and was not carrying any senior Army officials, the military said.
Trump prays for those in Washington plane crash
04:01
Donald Trump has been briefed about Wednesday’s plane crash near Reagan airport.
“May God Bless their souls,” Trump said, according to a White House statement. “Thank you for the incredible work being done by our first responders. I am monitoring the situation and will provide more details as they arise.”
Regional flight from Kansas involved in crash: American Airlines
03:51
A jet with American Eagle, the regional carrier for American Airlines, was one of the aircraft involved in Wednesday’s crash.
American Airlines wrote on X the crash involved American Eagle flight 5342, operated by PSA, with service from Wichita, Kansas, to Reagan airport.
PHOTOS: Responders race to scene of plane crash in Washington
03:44
,
Josh Marcus
Plane crash near Ronald Reagan airport in Washington
03:43
,
Josh Marcus
A passenger plane and a military helicopter collided mid-air on Wednesday evening near Ronald Reagan Airport in Washington, D.C.
We’ll be following all the latest news from the rescue effort live.
