A devastating mid-air collision occurred on Wednesday night involving a Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines flight near Washington D.C. The helicopter, based out of Fort Belvoir, Virginia, was on a training exercise in one of the world's most tightly controlled airspaces when the incident unfolded. The American Airlines flight, operated by PSA Airlines as American Eagle Flight 5342, collided with the helicopter as it approached Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Tragically, the helicopter crashed into the Potomac River.
The American Airlines flight had 60 passengers and four crew members on board at the time of the crash. Meanwhile, the Black Hawk helicopter was believed to be carrying three soldiers, none of whom held senior army positions. The crash resulted in a massive response effort, with about 300 responders involved in the search. Dozens of firefighters conducted dive operations on the Potomac River, where bodies were reportedly recovered, though no survivors were immediately found.
"Initially I saw the plane and it looked fine, normal. It was right about to head over land," – Ari Schulman
Weather conditions in Washington D.C. were reportedly clear when the accident occurred, eliminating adverse weather as a factor. The helicopter was engaged in a routine training flight when it collided with the passenger aircraft. President Donald Trump described the incident as a "terrible accident," highlighting the tragic nature of the event.
"The challenges are access … there is wind, there [are] pieces of ice out there, so it’s just dangerous and hard to work in," – John Donnelly