A midair collision between an Army helicopter and an American Airlines flight killed all 67 people aboard the two aircraft, officials said Thursday, as they scrutinized the actions of the military pilot and reported that control tower staffing was “not normal” at the time of the country's worst aviation disaster in a generation.
On January 29, a passenger jet collided with a helicopter near Ronald Reagan National Airport. Abadi Ismail captured video footage from his home, showing emergency teams responding after hearing explosive sounds and seeing smoke rise. The FAA confirmed that PSA Airlines Flight 5342 and a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter were involved in the crash. No casualties have been reported, but all airport operations were suspended. Search teams continue to scour the Potomac River, with the NTSB leading the investigation.
U.S. President Donald Trump criticized the Federal Aviation Administration's diversity equity and inclusion policies after a deadly collision of an American Airlines regional flight and U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth gives update on American Airlines flight deadly collision with Black Hawk helicopter
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Staff writers Anna Bryson and Dave Ress contributed to this report.
NTSB Chair @JenniferHomendy: "We have not recovered the flight data recorders yet. We know they're there. They are under water." pic.twitter.com/CiW9QMc1kK
— CSPAN (@cspan) January 30, 2025
