Deadly Potomac Midair Collision Claims 67 Lives

A tragic aviation accident occurred near Washington, DC on Wednesday, January 29, 2025. An American Airlines passenger plane (Flight 5342) collided midair with a US Army Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport, crashing into the Potomac River. The plane was carrying 64 people (60 passengers and 4 crew members), while the helicopter had 3 personnel onboard.

As of the early hours of January 30, 2025:

• At least 18 bodies have been recovered from the river.
• No survivors have been found so far.
• Over 300 emergency responders are searching the frigid waters of the Potomac.
• Reagan National Airport has suspended all operations until at least 11 a.m. ET on Thursday.

The collision occurred around 9 p.m. local time on Wednesday when the American Airlines flight, operated by PSA Airlines, was approaching for landing after departing from Wichita, Kansas. The Army helicopter was on a training flight from Fort Belvoir in Virginia.

This incident is potentially one of the most catastrophic aviation tragedies involving a US passenger flight in recent years. The search and rescue operation is ongoing, with authorities working to recover victims and investigate the cause of the collision.

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