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Small plan collides with military helicopter, crashes into Potomac River

UPI News01/30/2025

Planes were grounded at Reagan National Airport in Washington on January 11, 2023, after a system failure. On Wednesday night a small American Airlines plan collided with a jet near the airport. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI
Planes were grounded at Reagan National Airport in Washington on January 11, 2023, after a system failure. On Wednesday night a small American Airlines plan collided with a jet near the airport. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo

Jan. 29 (UPI) -- A small American Airlines jet collided with a Sikorsky H-60 military helicopter on approach to Reagan Washington National Airport and crashed in to the Potomac River on Wednesday night.

In a joint statement with DC Fire and MPD, police said "there are no confirmed casualties at this time."

An American Eagle flight 5342, operated by PSA, departed from Wichita, Kan. The plane was a Bombardier CRJ twin-engine plane.

All takeoffs and landings were halted at the airport. "Emergency personnel are responding to an aircraft incident on the airfield. The terminal remains open," Reagan National Airport said on social media.

The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation with the Federal Aviation Administration.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that President Donald Trump has been informed about an incident.

"Learning that a plane inbound from Kansas was involved in a crash at DCA. I am in contact with authorities," Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran posted on X. "Please join me in praying for all involved."

"We are in contact with authorities working to get answers," the other Kansas Senator, Roger Marshall posted on X. "We ask you to join us in prayer for every single passenger and their families."