UPDATED: A regional commuter flight inbound from Wichita, Kansas has reportedly collided with a helicopter near Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington, D.C. Kansas Governor Laura Kelly confirmed the plane’s origin. The FAA confirmed the plane was a Bombardier CRJ700, which can carry a little over 70 passengers. It also confirmed that the helicopter was a Sikorsky H-60 Blackhawk.
American Airlines said in a statement that “There were 60 passengers and four crew members on board the aircraft.” It identified the flight as American Eagle flight 5342 operated by PSA. According to the company’s web site, PSA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of American.
The FAA issued the following statement:
Watch on Deadline
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.
DC police confirmed the crash had taken place over the Potomac River and that search and rescue operations were taking place in the river itself. The temperature in the area is expected to “drop below freezing…with lows in the 20s,” according to the National Weather Service.
There are no confirmed casualties at this time. Flights into and out of the airport were quickly halted.
First reports of the crash came in about 8:53 p.m. ET. Some initial reports identified the helicopter as a DCPD aircraft. Police officials debunked that contention.
Fox News, CNN and MSNBC quickly jumped to coverage with updates from reporters on the scene detailing rescue efforts on the river. They also played dramatic footage of what appeared to be a mid-air crash not far off the ground and then the flash of an explosion.
The White House issue the following statement from President Donald Trump:
I have been fully briefed on the terrible accident which just took place at Reagan National Airport. May God Bless their souls. Thank you for the incredible work being done by our first responders. I am monitoring the situation and will provide more details as they arise.