Update as of Thursday 7:00 AM:
Emergency responders have recovered over 30 bodies from the water following a crash near Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., according to two sources familiar with the search operations, as reported by NBC4.
Update as of Thursday 1:50 AM:
In a press conference, Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser confirmed that "both aircraft are in the water," and that 64 people were aboard the American Airlines plane. She also added that three were on board the military helicopter.
"The focus now is rescuing people, and that's what all of our personnel are focused on," Bowser said. However, she declined to comment on recovery efforts or the investigation.
The National Transportation Safety Board is currently investigating the incident.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump reacted to the crash and said that it was a "bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented."
"The airplane was on a perfect and routine line of approach to the airport. The helicopter was going straight at the airplane for an extended period of time. It is a CLEAR NIGHT, the lights on the plane were blazing, why didn't the helicopter go up or down, or turn. Why didn't the control tower tell the helicopter what to do instead of asking if they saw the plane," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
Original story:
A passenger jet from Kansas crashed into the Potomac River near Reagan National Airport after a mid-air collision with a military helicopter, officials confirmed on Wednesday. The incident triggered a major emergency response and led to the temporary grounding of all flights.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated on Fox News that President Donald Trump had been briefed on the situation, saying, "Tragically, it appears that a military helicopter collided with a regional jet."
Authorities have not yet released details on the number of people aboard either aircraft or potential casualties.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) identified the jet as PSA Airlines Flight 5342, operating for American Airlines. The aircraft, which had departed from Wichita, Kansas, can accommodate up to 65 passengers, according to American Airlines' website.
The FAA ordered a full ground stop at Reagan National Airport following the mid-air collision, while Washington police confirmed on X that "multiple agencies" were responding to the crash site in the Potomac River.
Emergency crews, including fireboats, were deployed to the scene as rescue operations intensified in the cold waters of the Potomac.
According to the FAA, a PSA Airlines Bombardier regional jet collided mid-air with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter while approaching Reagan at around 9 p.m. (0200 GMT). The flight had originated from Wichita, Kansas.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) stated that it was actively gathering more details about the incident as investigations commenced.
This is a developing story.
