Key events
Newly confirmed defence secretary Pete Hegseth said his department was “actively monitoring” the situation. In a post on X he said:
DoD actively monitoring. Poised to assist if needed. Prayers for all involved.
US senator Ted Cruz says “we know there are fatalities” from the plane and helicopter collision, although he did not say where he had got his information from. In a post on X he said:
I am closely monitoring the situation at DCA, and I will receive a briefing from the FAA tomorrow. While we don’t yet know how many on board were lost, we know there are fatalities. Please join Heidi and me in praying for all involved as the search and rescue is underway.
PSA was operating Flight 5342 for American Airlines, which had departed from Wichita, Kansas, according to the federal aviation administration. According to American Airlines’ website, the jet can carry up to 65 passengers.
American Airlines has said it is aware of reports of “an incident” near Reagan National Airport. In a post on X it said:
We’re 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. We will provide information as it becomes available,” American Airlines.
Multiple helicopters, including those from the US park police and the DC metropolitan police department and US military, were flying over the scene of the incident in the Potomac River, Associated Press reports:
DC Fire and EMS said on X that fireboats were on the scene.
Washington, DC, police said on the social platform X that multiple agencies are conducting a search and rescue effort in the Potomac River after an aircraft crash.
Video from an observation camera at the nearby Kennedy Center shows two sets of lights consistent with aircraft appearing to join in a fireball.
The airport said emergency personnel were responding to “an aircraft incident on the airfield.”
Opening summary
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the collision of a US military plane with a passenger jet near Washington DC.
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said on Wednesday night that a PSA Airlines regional jet collided midair with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter while on approach to Reagan Washington national airport.
PSA-operated flight 5342 for American Airlines had departed from Wichita, Kansas, according to the FAA. According to American Airlines’ website, the jet has capacity for 65 passengers.
Police said multiple agencies were involved in a search and rescue operation in the Potomac River, which borders the airport. There was no immediate word on casualties.
The airport said late on Wednesday that all takeoffs and landings had been halted as emergency personnel responded.
The National Transportation Safety Board said it was gathering more information.
We’ll bring you updates as we receive them.
