Washington DC Plane Crash LIVE Updates: An American Airlines regional passenger jet carrying 64 people crashed into Washington DC’s Potomac River on Wednesday after colliding mid-air with a US Army Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport. A US Army official said the helicopter was carrying three soldiers — their status currently unknown. The incident prompted a major emergency response and the grounding of all flights. According to Washington police, “there is no confirmed information on casualties at this time,” although a massive search and rescue operation was in progress.
The Washington Post report quoted unnamed sources saying police had started to pull multiple bodies from the chilly Potomac River. No survivors had been found so far, the newspaper reported. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas said on social media that “we know there are fatalities,” though he did not say how many.
According to a report by CBS, at least 18 bodies have been recovered from the crash site. American Airlines said on social media that it was “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.” The Airlines said it would provide more information as it became available to the company.
Here are the Live updates of the American Airlines jet and helicopter collision in Washington DC:
Washington DC Plane Crash Live: Air Traffic Audio Captures Moments When Plane Crashed
Jan 30, 2025 11:20 (IST)
Airplane Crash in Washington DC Live: Two Near-Collisions Were Reported At Reagan Airport Last Year
Two near-collision of aircrafts were reported at Reagan National Airport last year that which resulted in FAA investigations, according to a NBC report.
Two planes narrowly avoided each other on the runway in May, the FAA said at the time. One had been cleared for takeoff, and the other had been cleared to land on a cross-runway.
In April, two planes on the ground nearly collided. No collisions happened in either incident, and there were no injuries.
Jan 30, 2025 11:17 (IST)
Washington DC Plane Crash Live: Helicopter That Collided With Jet Was On ‘Training Flight’
The US Army Black Hawk helicopter involved in Wednesday’s crash near Washington was on “a training flight” when it collided midair with a passenger jet, a military spokesman said.
The confirmation by a public affairs official was posted on X by new US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who himself described the accident as “absolutely tragic” and said search and rescue efforts were “still ongoing.”
Jan 30, 2025 11:14 (IST)
Reagan Airport Plane Crash Live: Trump Says Washington Air Crash ‘Should Have Been Prevented’
President Donald Trump on Wednesday said the crash between a US Army helicopter and a passenger jet near Washington “should have been prevented.”
“Why didn’t the control tower tell the helicopter what to do instead of asking if they saw the plane. This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, adding: “NOT GOOD!!!”
Airplane Crash in Washington DC Live: American Airlines CEO Expresses ‘Deep Sorrow’ At Washington Crash
The chief executive of American Airlines expressed “deep sorrow” after one of its aircraft crashed following a collision with a military helicopter over the US capital late Wednesday.
“I’d like to express our deep sorrow about these events,” said CEO Robert Isom in a video statement, adding: “This is a difficult day for all of us.”
Jan 30, 2025 11:05 (IST)
Washington DC Plane Crash Live: FBI Aiding Response To Crash
The FBI is assisting local agencies in search and rescue operation following the plane crash in Washington DC.
“The FBI Washington Field Office’s National Capital Response Squad is responding to an aviation incident at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in support of our law enforcement and public safety partners,” the Washington field office said in a statement.
Jan 30, 2025 11:00 (IST)
Airplane Crash in Washington DC Live: US Army Helicopter Was On Routine Flight
US Army Black Hawk helicopter, which crashed into the Potomac River after a midair collision with a passenger jet, was on a routine flight, NBC reported quoting a defence official and an Army official.
Jan 30, 2025 10:56 (IST)
Jan 30, 2025 10:56 (IST)
Jan 30, 2025 10:55 (IST)
Washington DC Plane Crash Live: Trump Thanks First Responders For “Incredible Work”
U.S. President Donald Trump said in a statement that he had been “fully briefed on the terrible accident which just took place at Reagan National Airport.”
“May God bless their souls,” he added. “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.”
Jan 30, 2025 10:53 (IST)
Reagan Airport Plane Crash Live: Law Enforcement Says American Airlines Plane Broke Into 2 Pieces
The US passenger plane carrying 64 people broke into two pieces, NBC Washington reported quoting law enforcement and emergency sources.
As per the report, the plane is in roughly 7 feet of water, and the U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter is upside down in the water. Divers are in the water, pulling out bodies.
