A U.S. passenger plane carrying 64 people crashed into the icy waters of the Potomac River on Wednesday night after a mid-air collision with a U.S. Army helicopter near Reagan National Airport, triggering a massive emergency response.
American Airlines Flight 5342, a PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet traveling from Wichita, Kansas, collided with the military aircraft while approaching Runway 33 at approximately 9 p.m., according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Rescue efforts are underway as nearly 300 first responders and divers search the frigid 35-degree waters for survivors. The crash involved 60 passengers and four crew members aboard the American Airlines jet, as well as three soldiers traveling in the Army UH-60 helicopter from Fort Belvoir, Virginia. So far, authorities have recovered the remains of at least 18 people, CBS News reported. No survivors have been confirmed.
“Our concern is for the passengers and crew on board the aircraft,” American Airlines said in a statement. “We are in contact with authorities and assisting with emergency response efforts.”
Officials have yet to confirm whether any individuals have been recovered alive, as they continue their search efforts in the hazardous conditions. The military helicopter, part of a training exercise, was not carrying any VIP personnel at the time of the incident, according to a Pentagon defense official.
Dramatic footage from an EarthCam at the Kennedy Center, five miles from the crash site, captured what appeared to be a fireball erupting in the sky during the explosion. Air traffic control audio also recorded the chaotic moments following the collision.
“It was probably out in the middle of the river. I just saw a fireball and then it was gone,” an air traffic controller can be heard saying in a recording shared on X (formerly Twitter). “I haven’t seen anything since they hit the river. But it was a CRJ and a helicopter that hit, I would say, maybe a half-mile off the approach into 33.”
Emergency responders, including fireboats, rushed to the scene, where debris was scattered across the water. A casualty collection point has been established near the Metropolitan Police Department’s hangar, according to emergency dispatchers.
“It’s a highly complex operation,” DC Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly said during a press conference. “The conditions out there are extremely rough for first responders. It’s cold, windy, and there are patches of ice in the water.”
Authorities report that the American Airlines jet broke apart upon impact, with sections of the fuselage floating upside down in roughly seven feet of water near Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling. Divers have yet to enter the submerged helicopter due to its instability, NBC 4 reported.
President Donald Trump issued a statement on the crash, saying, “I have been fully briefed on the terrible accident which just took place at Reagan National Airport. May God bless their souls.”
The investigation is ongoing as officials work to determine the cause of the collision and recover victims from the wreckage.