A military helicopter and a passenger airplane collided in the air, causing an explosion, before both fell in the Potomac River, near Washington D.C. Find out what occurred below!
Where Is Reagan National Airport?
Reagan National Airport is specifically located in Virginia, United States. Right across the Potomac River by the airport, is Washington D.C.
What Happened to American Airlines Flight 5432?
American Airlines flight 5432 was carrying 60 passengers and 4 crew members, and the plane was arriving from Wichita, Kansas, according to The New York Times. The plane was getting ready to land and was around 400 feet in the air and was going at 140 miles per hour. At about 9 p.m. on Wednesday, January 29, the plane collided in the air with a military helicopter that was undergoing an annually required night training, which had three passengers on it. The military plane came from the Davison Army Airfield in Fort Belvoir, Va., south of Washington.
The collision caused an explosion in the air and the American Airlines flight broke in half and fell into the Potomac River. Over 300 emergency workers have been tirelessly searching the Potomac River for any possible survivors.
American Airline CEO Robert Isom shared during a press conference: “On final approach into Reagan National it collided with a military aircraft on an otherwise normal approach. At this time we don’t know why the military aircraft came into the path of the … aircraft,” according to The Associated Press. Before the collision, Air Control asked the helicopter pilot if he had the airplane in sight. Air Control further instructed the pilot to “pass behind” the airplane. Both planes were following their normal flight patterns, and the night sky was clear. The helicopter crew also had on night vision goggles.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy provided information on the flight paths of the jet and U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter before the collision and an update on search efforts in the aftermath.
The latest: https://t.co/RR4BObxzAp pic.twitter.com/sjPxvVKsfe
— Newsweek (@Newsweek) January 30, 2025
Were There Any Survivors From the D.C. Plane Crash?
During a news conference, D.C. Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly shared: “We are now at a point where we are switching from a rescue operation to a recovery operation. We don’t believe there are any survivors from this accident,” according to Politico.
So far, 28 bodies have been recovered from the airplane and one from the helicopter, and experts have warned of any possible survivors experiencing hypothermia from the icy temperature of the river. Of the passengers on the plane, some were figure skaters, their family members and their coaches from Russia, who were arriving in D.C. after attending a training camp in Kansas.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated at a press conference: “To back up with the president said, what I’ve seen so far — do I think this was preventable? Absolutely,” according to ABC.
Officials in Washington and new Transport Sec Duffy full update BlackHawk American Airlines #AA5342 Plane CRASH DC pic.twitter.com/iyQ1XgXf7v
— Dortie (@24SevenEyes) January 30, 2025
