[UPDATES BELOW]
This post has been updated.
A press conference was held a little after 1 AM this morning. DC Mayor Muriel Bowser, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, and other elected leaders and first responders. There are no details about the number of fatalities. First responders will work throughout the night, which is difficult due to the lack of light, wind, and weather. It is hazardous for diving crews to operate under these conditions.
DC Mayor says she will not confirm tonight any survivors or fatalities https://t.co/NGb8ed0lx3
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) January 30, 2025
Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy: "I think for all of us, we want to extend our thoughts and prayers to those individuals who were impacted by the events tonight, their families. We know this is a very difficult time for all of them. I want to join the mayor and everyone… pic.twitter.com/wWWo852FnI
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) January 30, 2025
Reagan national airport will be closed until 11am ET, per MWAA CEO.
— Libbey Dean (@LibbeyDean_) January 30, 2025
DCA will be closed until tomorrow at 11 am, impacting flights tomorrow
— Olivia Rinaldi (@olivialarinaldi) January 30, 2025
BREAKING UPDATE: MULTIPLE VICTIMS WASHING ON SHORELINES: Calls are coming into 911 for multiple victims that are washing up on different shorelines. This is a major rescue and recovery operation. This will extend late into night and I will continue my coverage late as well.
— REAL-TIME (@Newsguy41) January 30, 2025
D.C. Fire and EMS chief on the conditions for rescue/recovery efforts: "[T]he water that we're operating in is about eight feet deep. There is wind. There is pieces of ice out there, so it's just dangerous and hard to work in and because there's not a lot of lights, you're out… pic.twitter.com/tv9i0EzZEk
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) January 30, 2025
Kansas Senator @RogerMarshallMD: "When one
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) January 30, 2025
person dies, it's a tragedy. But when many, many, many people die, it's an unbearable sorrow. It's a heartbreak beyond measure. And I know Senator Moran and I are here just to -- to -- to say we care. We wish that there was more we… pic.twitter.com/Ogt9tqOQGP
***UPDATED Post***
We have a tragic mass casualty event at Reagan Airport in Washington, DC. Around 9 pm EST, a commercial airliner on approach collided with a military helicopter. Sixty-four people were on board what was later confirmed to be an American Airlines flight from Kansas. Initial reports were that it was a police helicopter, which was quickly dispelled. The US Army confirmed it was a Blackhawk helicopter, but no senior military personnel were onboard. Three soldiers were in the chopper. There are no survivors. Search and rescue is on the scene recovering the bodies.
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CNN aviation correspondent and private pilot @PeteMunteen: "I'm stumbling over my words here b/c this is just so staggering that there is a midair collision involving a commercial airliner. Commercial flights are equipped for ages with a system called TCAS -- Traffic collision… pic.twitter.com/K5zPVDCF2z
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) January 30, 2025
NEW HORROR FOOTAGE: Dashcam captures the exact moment of the aircraft crash near Reagan International Airport. pic.twitter.com/4IYHtVMgC4
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) January 30, 2025
ATC: "I just saw a fireball & then it was just gone."
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) January 30, 2025
pic.twitter.com/JdeevacrXJ
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom issued this statement of the horrific tragedy tonight in D.C. pic.twitter.com/HwlkQlSirm
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) January 30, 2025
Initial reports claim that a helicopter collided with a commercial airliner over the Potomac. Sixty-four people were reportedly onboard. We have a clip of the crash below.
Developing reports: American Airlines Flight 5342 from Wichita, Kansas inbound to DCA collided midair with a D.C. Police Helicopter on approach.
— Ben Goldey (@BenGoldey) January 30, 2025
#Breaking DC Fire and EMS confirms a small aircraft is down in the Potomac River in the vicinity of Reagan National Airport. Fireboats on scene. All takeoffs and landings have been halted at DCA. Emergency personnel are responding to an aircraft incident on the airfield. The… pic.twitter.com/aGisrUj6ug
— Allison Papson (@AllisonPapson) January 30, 2025
DEVELOPING: Small aircraft crashes in the Potomac River in Washington D.C.; number of people on board unknown pic.twitter.com/gItDQHQ4W8
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) January 30, 2025
BREAKING: Aircraft crash reported near National Airport https://t.co/cHoYJr9Cet
— Arlington Now (@ARLnowDOTcom) January 30, 2025
Airplane has collided with a helicopter near DC while the plane was trying to land at Reagan National Airport.
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) January 30, 2025
Aircraft plummeted into the Potomac River where massive casualties are reported.
This is a disaster that’s unfolding.
Pray for survivors.
🙏🏼pic.twitter.com/iTxKYpedbQ
Something VERY, VERY bad has happened at Reagan National Airport. https://t.co/m5CIfwvCcG
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) January 30, 2025
All takeoffs and landings have been halted at DCA. Emergency personnel are responding to an aircraft incident on the airfield. The terminal remains open. Will update.
— Reagan Airport (@Reagan_Airport) January 30, 2025
Police scanner says they are setting up a “casualty collection area” after an incident at DCA airport.
— Katie Pavlich (@KatiePavlich) January 30, 2025
Here's footage of the mid-air collision:
BREAKING: Mid-air collision between a helicopter and commercial jet on approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Rescue boats are scanning the Potomac River. pic.twitter.com/ySwHFq9Ej1
— Breaking 4 News (@Breaking_4_News) January 30, 2025
UPDATE: Initial reports said a police helicopter was involved in the crash. That has been corrected, as it looks like it was a military helicopter. Scanners say that bodies are being recovered. We have no reports on the number of survivors.
Police scanner: Body drop offs of victims are happening
— Katie Pavlich (@KatiePavlich) January 30, 2025
A multi-agency search and rescue operation is underway in the Potomac River after aircraft crash. Updates to follow. All information will follow in this thread.
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) January 30, 2025
Police scanner re: DCA crash - “We have more victims, we’ll need medical response for one”
— Katie Pavlich (@KatiePavlich) January 30, 2025
Per scanner - fire boat taking bodies to a ramp to offload. #DCA
— BamaGirlTNwx (@HeatherCarterTN) January 30, 2025
UPDATE II: The flight was reportedly coming into DC from Kansas.
Learning that a plane inbound from Kansas was involved in a crash at DCA.
— Senator Jerry Moran (@JerryMoran) January 30, 2025
I am in contact with authorities.
Please join me in praying for all involved.
UPDATE III: This is a major aviation accident. Pictures of the fuselage are pouring in.
🚨🚨PICTURES AND VIDEO FROM DCA CRASH
— Jim Pfaff (@jimpfaff) January 30, 2025
I'm at Haines Point across the Potomac from @Reagan_Airport where search and rescue is taking place. This is a major disaster. Some people here got a picture of the broken aircraft.@flightradar24 pic.twitter.com/ptyOjoeoHl
UPDATE IV: It was a Blackhawk helicopter that crashed into an American Airlines flight. President Trump is aware of the situation.
CNN's aviation correspondent @petemuntean helping to lead coverage of the Reagan National Airport crash between an American Airlines and a Blackhawk helicopter. He is absolutely STUNNED.
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) January 30, 2025
Pete, formerly with @WUSA9 and @WGAL, knows aviation like few in TV news.
BREAKING: FAA says Blackhawk helicopter collided with an American Airlines CRJ-700 jet
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) January 30, 2025
Trump Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt gives an update on the DCA crash:
— Conservative War Machine (@WarMachineRR) January 30, 2025
“President Trump has been made aware of this situation, and tragically, it appears that a military helicopter collided with a regional jet at DCA airport right here in Washington, DC.” pic.twitter.com/HaHRZ08P7p
UPDATE V: FAA released a statement on the crash.
Statement from the FAA on D.C. Airspace Incident: pic.twitter.com/8TcoP4GheL
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) January 30, 2025
Police scanner 10:04 pm on DCA crash: Eight victims have been pulled from the river by boat.
— Katie Pavlich (@KatiePavlich) January 30, 2025
It appears the military helicopter was not broadcasting its GPS location at the time. https://t.co/lazcNBOufa
— Ben Goldey (@BenGoldey) January 30, 2025
UPDATE VI: Vice President JD Vance and American Airlines have reacted to the crash. So far, there have been no reports of any survivors.
Please say a prayer for everyone involved in the mid-air collision near Reagan airport this evening. We're monitoring the situation, but for now let's hope for the best.
— JD Vance (@JDVance) January 30, 2025
American Airlines:
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) January 30, 2025
We’re aware of reports that American Eagle flight 5342, operated by PSA, with service from Wichita, Kansas (ICT) to Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA) has been involved in an incident. We will provide information as it becomes available.
Arlington County Police Scanner: “In 20 minutes if we have not found any survivors I’m going to start cutting some of the EMS task force loose.”
— Natalie Johnson (@nataliejohnsonn) January 30, 2025
UPDATE VII: CNN's Pete Muntean notes how this accident will change American aviation. DCA has had many close calls in the past.
Profoundly true take from CNN aviation correspondent @PeteMunteen at 1002pm Eastern: "This clearly, Abby, will be a tragedy that will change aviation. Mark my words now. You are looking now at the incredible response there on the shores of the Potomac River...This is really… pic.twitter.com/SREUpc7fHP
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) January 30, 2025
This clearly, Abby, will be a tragedy that will change aviation. Mark my words now. You are looking now at the incredible response there on the shores of the Potomac River...This is really staggering that this has happened and there have been close call after close call involving commercial flights on the runways of commercial airports, major airports in the U.S., an incident, a spate of incidents that really took off in 2023. None of them ended up ending up occurring with a mid-air collision like we have seen here. The fact that this involved not only a commercial flight, which is equipped from top to bottom with anti-collision technology, something called TCAS -- Traffic Collision Avoidance System, mandated by the FAA in most commercial airliners since the early 90s, but also the pilots are well trained. The aviation system -- commercial aviation in the U.S. is the gold standard for safety. We are the example for every other country. There is not been a significant crash with fatalities, and we do not know if there are fatalities here in the U.S. involving a commercial flight since the Colgan air crash of 2009 led to sweeping changes in regulation and pilot experience requirements. The fact that this happened in D.C. over near Reagan National Airport, some of the busiest airspace in the country and one of the single busiest runways in the national airspace system, is really pretty incredible."
UPDATE VIII: NBC4 reports at least four survivors, though their condition is unknown. Given the images and the lack of confirmation, I don't think we should run with this just yet.
🚨#BREAKING: NBC 4 is reporting that At least four people have been rescued after a military helicopter collided into a American airliner jet near Washington DC
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) January 30, 2025
UPDATE: NBC reports that 4 people were pulled from the water after the crash.
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) January 30, 2025
No confirmation if these people are alive or not, or if they were from the airplane or the helicopter.
UPDATE IX: The military helicopter had no senior military personnel onboard. Three soldiers were, however.
NEW: Reuters reports that an official confirmed that no senior military personnel were on board the Black Hawk helicopter that crashed near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) January 30, 2025
No senior officials onboard the Blackhawk helicopter that crashed into American Airlines flight near Reagan National Airport: U.S. Army official. 3 Soldiers were onboard the Blackhawk, according to Army.
— Jennifer Griffin (@JenGriffinFNC) January 30, 2025
UPDATE X: Trump's statement on the crash.
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) January 30, 2025
UPDATE XI: The Blackhawk helicopter wreckage has been located, but divers cannot enter it because it's not secure. Currently bobbing up and down in the Potomac.
#BREAKING at 1048 pm Eastern: NBC Washington's Mark Segraves, citing two sources, said the crash scene on the Potomac is closer toward the shore of Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling and the American Airlines plane "split in two and is in about 7 feet of water...[T]he helicopter is… pic.twitter.com/rBZ8m7I0hQ
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) January 30, 2025
UPDATE XII: Reagan National Airport closed until 5 am Friday. CORRECTION: Reagan will re-open 11 am Friday.
DCA airport will be closed until at least Friday at 5am, according to the FAA
— Selina Wang (@selinawangtv) January 30, 2025
Reagan Airport DCA closed until at least 5 a.m. Friday due to plane/helicopter crash, per FAA https://t.co/I8p57nU4Lj pic.twitter.com/FtpnFAeq68
— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) January 30, 2025
UPDATE XIII: At least 19 bodies have been recovered. Are there really four survivors?
BREAKING: At least 19 bodies pulled from river after D.C. plane crash, according to first responders. No sign of survivors
— BNO News (@BNONews) January 30, 2025
The American Airlines plane is in pieces, and the Black Hawk helicopter is upside-down at the bottom of the Potomic River, per FNC & CBS
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) January 30, 2025
No survivors found to this point pic.twitter.com/ZIKFCV0QTc
This image is hard to even fathom. From @andyharnik pic.twitter.com/oPXMeTLX5V
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) January 30, 2025
Kansas Senator @RogerMarshallMD: "When one
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) January 30, 2025
person dies, it's a tragedy. But when many, many, many people die, it's an unbearable sorrow. It's a heartbreak beyond measure. And I know Senator Moran and I are here just to -- to -- to say we care. We wish that there was more we… pic.twitter.com/Ogt9tqOQGP
LAST UPDATE: The new images are harrowing, and it's unlikely that there are any survivors.
CNN's Tom Foreman, stating the reality it's unlikely there will be any survivors from the American Airlines crash: "This plane would be coming in at about 150 miles an hour, when the impact would have occurred. That would have been a tremendous shock to the cabin itself and then… pic.twitter.com/Z9O0g4FFG7
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) January 30, 2025
Two more angles of the wreckage of the American Airlines plane in the Potomac.
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) January 30, 2025
Horrifying pic.twitter.com/Vy5SWVCs5z
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