A U.S. passenger jet carrying 64 people crashed into the Potomac River in Washington on Wednesday night after a midair collision with a military helicopter conducting a training exercise. The crash sparked a frantic search for survivors in the near-freezing water.
The plane, operated by American Airlines subsidiary PSA Airlines, was a Bombardier regional jet flying from Wichita, Kansas, and was approaching Reagan National Airport at around 9:00 p.m. (0200 GMT) when the accident occurred. According to the airline, there were 60 passengers and four crew members on board.
A U.S. Army official confirmed that the helicopter involved was a Black Hawk carrying three soldiers, whose conditions remain unknown. The military stated that the helicopter had been on a routine training flight when the collision happened.
Authorities have yet to confirm casualties, but a large-scale search and rescue effort was underway, with divers scouring the wreckage in the snow-lined Potomac River. Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser assured reporters that efforts would continue as long as necessary to recover those involved. Fire Chief John Donnelly described the conditions as "extremely rough," adding that emergency crews, numbering around 300 personnel, were working tirelessly. He indicated that the operation would be reassessed in the morning.
Eyewitness Ari Schulman, who was driving home at the time, recounted seeing "a stream of sparks" as the plane went down. Initially, it appeared to be flying normally before banking sharply to the right. He described the scene as "lit up a very bright yellow" with a trail of sparks, comparing it to a Roman candle firework.
President Donald Trump released a statement saying he had been "fully briefed" and offered prayers for any victims. However, just hours later, he took to social media to criticize air traffic control, questioning how the accident was allowed to happen on a clear night with both aircraft visible to controllers.
In response to the crash, the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a temporary ground stop at Reagan National Airport, which is expected to remain closed until 11:00 a.m. (1600 GMT) on Thursday. American Airlines' CEO expressed deep sorrow over the incident, while Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas called the collision “nothing short of a nightmare.”
The incident has raised serious questions about how a passenger jet equipped with modern collision-avoidance systems could collide with a military aircraft in the heavily monitored airspace over Washington, D.C. The city’s skies are often crowded with low-flying commercial aircraft, as well as military and government helicopters transporting officials.
The crash brings back memories of past aviation disasters in Washington. In January 1982, Air Florida Flight 90 crashed into the 14th Street Bridge shortly after takeoff, plunging into the icy Potomac River and killing 78 people. Investigators determined that inadequate de-icing procedures led to that tragedy.
The last major fatal air accident in the U.S. occurred in 2009 when Continental Flight 3407 crashed near Buffalo, New York, killing all 49 people on board.
