Midair Collision Near Reagan National Sends Plane into Potomac River

[Social Media]

 

A regional jet operated by American Airlines collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter in midair near Reagan Washington National Airport around 9 p.m., according to a preliminary update from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Wednesday evening. Authorities have launched a search-and-rescue operation in the Potomac River, where one or both aircraft may have crashed.  

There is now an active rescue operation underway at the Potomac River in Washington D.C. after a passenger plane operated by American Airlines collided midair with a Black Hawk helicopter while trying to land. CBS News' @krisvancleave reports that this is the first commercial… pic.twitter.com/wBodTGwqZH

— CBS News (@CBSNews) January 30, 2025

 

BREAKING: Video shows 2 aircraft colliding over the Potomac River in Washington, D.C.

BREAKING: Video shows 2 aircraft colliding over the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. pic.twitter.com/vVcyThS8Lr

— BNO News (@BNONews) January 30, 2025

 

 

The Bombardier CRJ700, which was en route from Wichita, Kansas, was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members when the collision occurred. The aircraft, fitted with 65 seats, has 44 in the main cabin, 12 in the main cabin extra section, and nine in first class, according to American Airlines.

 

U.S. Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas confirmed the number of passengers aboard and expressed his concern, saying, "My prayer is that God wraps his arms around each and every victim and that he continues to be with their families. There are no words that can make telling this story any easier. I ask the world to join me in praying for Kansas this evening, the first responders, rescue crews, and all those involved in this horrific accident."  

 

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who was sworn in earlier the same day, stated on social media that he was monitoring the situation from the FAA headquarters. Emergency responders are actively searching for survivors in the river, with NBC 4’s Julie Carey reporting that four victims have been taken to the North Boathouse Fire Station at Reagan National Airport for medical attention.  

 

Officials confirmed that the helicopter involved in the collision was an Army Black Hawk. The circumstances leading up to the crash remain unclear, and authorities are continuing their investigation into the incident.

 

Based on a report by NBC News 2025-01-31

 

 

[lordgrinz]

Why on earth would a military aircraft be crossing the path of an inbound aircraft in commercial airspace near an airport?!

[Sandboxer]

Planes dropping like flies last few months...

[novacova]

5 minutes ago, lordgrinz said:

Why on earth would a military aircraft be crossing the path of an inbound aircraft in commercial airspace near an airport?!

Miscommunication with air traffic control 

[brewsterbudgen]

Shocking video.  Almost looks like the helicopter deliberately flew into the passenger jet.  

[connda]

As a private pilot in my pre-Thailand years, I can pretty much guess that the helicopter was where it shouldn't have been.  Planes come in on a glide slope and are positioned in landing patterns by ATC in the tower.  The helicopter was in that flight path.  Why?  Guess we'll find out who will be pilloried soon enough.  I seriously doubt the collision was the fault of the airplane's pilots.  RIP - nobody survived that. 🙏

[connda]

31 minutes ago, lordgrinz said:

Why on earth would a military aircraft be crossing the path of an inbound aircraft in commercial airspace near an airport?!

Exactly.

[khunJam]

4 minutes ago, connda said:

As a private pilot in my pre-Thailand years, I can pretty much guess that the helicopter was where it shouldn't have been.  Planes come in on a glide slope and are positioned in landing patterns by ATC in the tower.  The helicopter was in that flight path.  Why?  Guess we'll find out who will be pilloried soon enough.  I seriously doubt the collision was the fault of the airplane's pilots.  RIP - nobody survived that. 🙏

Air control knew where the helicopter was and asked if they were able to see the plane. 

[Eric Loh]

Shocking that it happen just over 3 miles south of the White House and the Capitol. Should be a tightly monitored airspace. Hope many of the 60+ passengers and crews survived. 

[Caldera]

Saddening. RIP.

[lordgrinz]

39 minutes ago, connda said:

As a private pilot in my pre-Thailand years, I can pretty much guess that the helicopter was where it shouldn't have been.  Planes come in on a glide slope and are positioned in landing patterns by ATC in the tower.  The helicopter was in that flight path.  Why?  Guess we'll find out who will be pilloried soon enough.  I seriously doubt the collision was the fault of the airplane's pilots.  RIP - nobody survived that. 🙏

 

They are saying the Blackhawk was on a training mission, who the heck was in charge of this failed training mission?! 

[alex8912]

Very sad and no survivors after almost 4 hours. It seems the AA commercial flight was doing exactly what it was supposed to be doing just seconds from landing on runway.  How can a training flight go straight into the flight? 

[lordgrinz]

10 minutes ago, alex8912 said:

Very sad and no survivors after almost 4 hours. It seems the AA commercial flight was doing exactly what it was supposed to be doing just seconds from landing on runway.  How can a training flight go straight into the flight? 

 

From the video, you can see an aircraft leaving the airport to the right of the helicopter, at the same time another one is coming in landing from his left. I'm wondering if he was looking at the wrong plane when talking with the ATC, looking to the right, and not his left.

[Rimmer]

Bickering and flaming posts stemming from a laughing emoji have been removed, the emoji in question has now also been removed.

[norfolkandchance]

BBC are reporting 18 bodies have been recovered and no survivors as yet.

[KannikaP]

2 hours ago, khunJam said:

Air control knew where the helicopter was and asked if they were able to see the plane. 

Have you heard the playback?

[Nid_Noi]

2 hours ago, connda said:

As a private pilot in my pre-Thailand years, I can pretty much guess that the helicopter was where it shouldn't have been.  Planes come in on a glide slope and are positioned in landing patterns by ATC in the tower.  The helicopter was in that flight path.  Why?  Guess we'll find out who will be pilloried soon enough.  I seriously doubt the collision was the fault of the airplane's pilots.  RIP - nobody survived that. 🙏

 

Based on the ADS-B data and the tracking of the commercial airliner his flight path was perfect according to the RNAV approach plate to runway 33.

Approaches to runway 01 and 33 are very similar until reaching Final Approach Fix NADSE then the aircraft alters his course for runway to start its approach at IDTEK for runway 33.

Whe data transmission stopped aircraft was at 400 ft with a speed of 139 knots which matches the plate instructions. He had already passed the MDA (Minimum descent Altitude).

The NTSB should confirm the position of the Blackhawk as instructed by ATC or on the wrong flight path.

 

 

 

 

 

[scottiejohn]

3 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Shocking video.  Almost looks like the helicopter deliberately flew into the passenger jet.  

Shocking and insensitive post!

[brewsterbudgen]

5 minutes ago, scottiejohn said:

Shocking and insensitive post!

[Watawattana]

I wonder what Safety Nets the Air Traffic Controllers have access to.  Those systems should have been blaring warnings at the Controllers, with the 2 aircraft highlighted on their displays.  Never mind warnings on the aircraft.

 

A very sad day for US aviation.

[Watawattana]

5 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

So, some kind of suicide attack is being hinted at?  Wow!

[tomazbodner]

https://ix.cnn.io/dailygraphics/graphics/20250129-dc-crash-map/static/media/ai2html-graphic-desktop.9a0f1774.jpg

 

Orange is the line of the plane, and yellow (or lighter one) is the path of the helicopter.

 

An air traffic controller said, “PAT 2-5 do you have the CRJ in sight?”

The controller then said, “PAT 2-5 pass behind the CRJ.”

The audio then captured audible gasps, including a loud “oooh” in the background apparently from the tower, at the moment of the crash.

The tower then alerted another pilot of what has taken place.

“I don’t know if you caught earlier what happened, but there was a collision on the approach end of 3-3. We are going to be shutting down operations for the indefinite future if you want to go back to the gate. Highly suggest you guys coordinate with the company. Let me know what you want to do,” the controller says, referencing runway 33.

[novacova]

10 minutes ago, tomazbodner said:

An air traffic controller said, “PAT 2-5 do you have the CRJ in sight?”

The controller then said, “PAT 2-5

That would be a Gold Top army helo used for VIP transport coordinated out of Langley. Pat25 cs for training 

[Purdey]

Sad, but I wanted to be the first person to say...

Black Hawk down!

There, got it out of my system.

[Jingthing]

Landing into DCA is really awesome as you can see all the iconic buildings and monuments. They were supposed to close DCA (for safety reasons) when boring but safe well out of town Dulles was opened but the politicians were too greedy about having their easy commute airport.

[Walker88]

Passengers include the US National Figure Skating Team, the coaches and family members, plus 2 Russian skating champions.

 

 

[sqwakvfr]

4 hours ago, lordgrinz said:

Why on earth would a military aircraft be crossing the path of an inbound aircraft in commercial airspace near an airport?!

Joint Base Bolling is located across the river.  ATC tapes revealed the pilot of the Army Black Hawk transmitted "have the RJ in sight".  The RJ was initially cleared to land on RWY 1 but then was directed to circle and land on RWY 33.  As soon as the RJ (Regional Jet) from Witchita KS was lined up on short final on RWY 33 at approximately 400 feet MSL is when for some unknown reason the BlackHawk (Call sign PAT 25) slammed into the back of the Regional Jet. It is very common for military helicopters to fly in this airspace.  DCA or Reagan airport is very close to the capital and the White House.  

[lordgrinz]

1 hour ago, sqwakvfr said:

Joint Base Bolling is located across the river.  ATC tapes revealed the pilot of the Army Black Hawk transmitted "have the RJ in sight".  The RJ was initially cleared to land on RWY 1 but then was directed to circle and land on RWY 33.  As soon as the RJ (Regional Jet) from Witchita KS was lined up on short final on RWY 33 at approximately 400 feet MSL is when for some unknown reason the BlackHawk (Call sign PAT 25) slammed into the back of the Regional Jet. It is very common for military helicopters to fly in this airspace.  DCA or Reagan airport is very close to the capital and the White House.  

 

I still think he was looking at the outbound jet to his right, not the one he hit coming in from his left.

[GammaGlobulin]

Black Hawk Down.

Seems like one of the pilots wasn't looking.

Maybe not enough night-flight training.

Good visibility.

Maybe one of the pilots was focusing on instruments when the focus should have been outside the cockpit.

[sqwakvfr]

42 minutes ago, lordgrinz said:

 

I still think he was looking at the outbound jet to his right, not the one he hit coming in from his left.

Good point. I  saw the vidoe and the departing flight was climbing out right before the impact.