American Airlines Flight 5342, a PSA Airlines CRJ-700 (N709PS), collided midair with a U.S. Army UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter near Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA) while on approach to Runway 33 at approximately 9 p.m. local time on January 29, 2025.
The FAA and NTSB have confirmed the crash and will lead the investigation. Flight 5342, which had 60 passengers and four crew members, was operating from Wichita, Kansas, and that rescuers have found at least four survivors so far. The UH-60 belonged to the Army’s Fort Belvoir unit.
Latest updates are below. Refresh this link for the latest update.
Current as of 30 Jan 2025, 1:42am
Update 1:42am ET: Reagan National Airport Closed Until 11am
FAA NOTAMs for Reagan National Airport show that DCA will be closed through at least 11am today. NOTAM excerpt below.
Two Posts on Truth Social in the last few minutes by U.S. President Donald J. Trump. pic.twitter.com/gOdB7nSNO5
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) January 30, 2025
Update 12:41am ET: Statement by American Airlines CEO on crash
A Statement from the CEO of American Airlines, Robert Isom following the Crash tonight of a Canadair Regional Jet CRJ-700 operated by PSA Airlines at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport near Washington D.C. pic.twitter.com/r998i5HmP2
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) January 30, 2025
Update 12:11am ET: DCA Closed Through at Least 5am
DCA is closed through at least 5am. That is according to Huffington Post reporter Jen Bendery.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Washington Reagan National Airport closed til 5 a.m. Friday after midair collision, Federal Aviation Administration says.
— Jen Bendery (@jbendery.bsky.social) January 29, 2025 at 10:29 PM
FAA Notams do show the airport is closed until 5am local time.
Update 12:00am ET: CNN Confirms No Survivors Thus Far
A recent X post by political commentator Charlie Kirk shared that CNN has confirmed with rescue officials that no survivors have been found thus far. A link to his post is below.
CNN has confirmed with law enforcement that no survivors have been pulled from the water. The rescue efforts remain underway. pic.twitter.com/hJ0QUOMNxu
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) January 30, 2025
Update 11:48pm ET: US Government Leaders Post Response To Crash
President Trump has been informed of the crash. The White House released a statement from the President via his press secretary.
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) January 30, 2025
Newly confirmed US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy also posted on X about the accident.
I have spoken with Washington D.C. Mayor Bowser, Virginia Governor Youngkin, Kansas Governor Kelly, and NTSB Chair Homendy to offer our agency’s complete assistance. Thank you to all first responders who are on the scene and conducting the search and rescue operations.
— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) January 30, 2025
Moments later he sent a second tweet promising full support of the US DOT (department of Transportation) and the FAA.
I have directed @USDOT and @FAANews to provide full support to the @NTSB and all responding agencies and authorities.
— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) January 30, 2025
Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem also posted a response to the crash.
We are deploying every available US Coast Guard resource for search and rescue efforts in this horrific incident at DCA. We are actively monitoring the situation & stand ready to support local responders.
Praying for the victims and first responders.
— Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) January 30, 2025
Update 11:45pm ET: American Airlines posts link to updates
American Airlines has posted on X with link to their website with the latest crash news. Their latest post confirms 60 passengers and 4 crew members on board.
#AA5342 en route from Wichita, Kansas (ICT), to Washington, D.C. (DCA) was involved in an accident at DCA. Get the latest updates on our Newsroom https://t.co/vb4fAAUENX
— americanair (@AmericanAir) January 30, 2025
Update 11:18pm ET: Tail number of CRJ-700
While we do not have any information on the Blackhawk, but according to NBC News the Army has confirmed that it was an Army UH-60 Blackhawk out of Fort Belvoir involved in tonight’s crash. The PSA CRJ-700 jet involved in the crash was tail N709PS.
Airfleets, a website that tracks aircraft history shows that the aircraft was first flown in September of 2004. The aircraft originally flew with Midatlantic Airways under the US Airways Express banner. The aircraft joined the PSA fleet just two months later. Airfleets website shows that the aircraft was stored from September of 2022 until earlier this month. The aircraft was 20.4 years old at the time of the accident.
Congressman Don Beyer has posted on BlueSky with information for anyone who may have had friends or relatives on the flight.
A tweet from Kansas Rep. Don Beyer, relaying info for families: … “If you believe you may have loved ones on board Flight 5342, call American Airlines toll-free at 800-679-8215.”
— The Hill is Home (@thehillishome.bsky.social) January 29, 2025 at 10:12 PM
Update 10:19pm ET: ATC Recording
Liveatc.com records live audio of many ATC conversations worldwide. The audio from DCA tower is available on their website. If you click on the link here, the audio involving the accident starts at 17:15 of the clip.
The PSA aircraft involved in the accident is a Mitsubishi CRJ-700. The CRJ-700 is a regional jet that first flew in 1999. It entered service in 2001 as stretch and modernized CRJ-200. The aircraft features a larger cabin, modernized avionics, and upgraded engines. The -700 typically holds between 70 to 78 passengers. Some aircraft have been reconfigured with first class seats and storage closets to seat just 50. In 2020, Bombardier sold the CRJ program to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
Update 10:17pm ET: FAA Statement on Crash
The FAA has released a statement confirming the crash. According to the FAA:
A PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet collided in midair with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter while on approach to Runway 33 at Reagan Washington National Airport around 9 p.m. local time. PSA was operating as Flight 5342 for American Airlines. It departed from Wichita, Kansas. The FAA and NTSB will investigate. The NTSB will lead the investigation.
Update 10:11pm ET: Airport Authority Audio
Audio from the Metropolitan Airports Authority from SFBD on Bluesky.
Update 9:52pm ET: Initial Crash Information and Video
From initial information appears PSA Airlines 5342, a CRJ 700 collided with PAT25, an Army transport helicopter on the approach end of runway 33 at DCA, Reagan National Airport
iirc the PAT helos are gold top UH-60s used for VIP transport
ADS-B tracks: https://t.co/rymUst3aMi pic.twitter.com/Z0iSNXVi0A
— Ian Servin || @airplaneian.com on Bluesky (@airplaneian) January 30, 2025
.@flightradar24 recording as #AA5342 approached. Looks like another American flight was just ahead of them on final to runway 1. Possible 5342 sidestepped to runway 13, got low, and collided with a helicopter flying low on the east bank of the Potomac. The helicopter is not on… pic.twitter.com/MWo5UEOV7i
— Brian McGuigan (@bricaul) January 30, 2025
A video posted from the Kennedy Center camera shows what appears to be a helicopter flying from left to right in front of a landing aircraft. Seconds later, they appear to collide, resulting in an explosion.
This is footage of the impact of the #AmericanAirline CRJ (AA5342) from Wichita, KS with a Washington D.C. Police Helicopter while landing at #RonaldReganInternationalAirport
Both are in the Potomac River~ 🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/vD0oqteizL
— TruthInBytes (@bytesintruth) January 30, 2025
Additional posts indicate that rescue helicopters are searching for the aircraft at this time.
WASHINGTON: BREAKING REPORT: An American Airlines regional passenger plane reportedly collided with a helicopter and fell into the Potomac River upon landing at Reagan Nat’l Airport near DC. Reports suggest the flight is AA5342 from Wichita, Kansas with 60 on board. pic.twitter.com/qeeaoJkhXo
— KolHaolam (@KolHaolam) January 30, 2025
WATCH 🚨: A PAT25 Military helicopter and a CRJ 700 jet collided mid-air while approaching Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport from Wichita, Kansas.
There are reports that 60 people were on board.#AA5342 operated by PSA Airlines for American Airlines is the flight that… pic.twitter.com/tvTVZmDI0f
— Daily Weather (@weatherdaily365) January 30, 2025
Live scanner feed of the incident is linked here.
We will keep this link updated and correct information as we learn more.
Credit: avgeekery.com
