A devastating mid-air collision occurred near Washington, DC, involving an American Airlines plane and a Black Hawk helicopter. The crash happened around 9 pm on Wednesday, 29th January 2025 with the PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 jet carrying 64 people, including 60 passengers and four crew members. The helicopter had three personnel on board.
The collision occurred near Ronald Reagan National Airport, prompting a massive search and rescue operation in the Potomac River. Multiple fire and police agencies are involved, with over 300 responders working in challenging conditions, including high winds, low visibility, and cold weather.
Key Developments:
- Airport Closure: Ronald Reagan National Airport has halted all takeoffs and landings until at least 5 am on Friday.
- Rescue Efforts: Inflatable rescue boats have been deployed, and light towers set up to illuminate the crash site.
- Investigation: The US Army and Department of Defence have launched an investigation into the incident.
- Fatalities: While officials haven’t confirmed casualties, Senator Ted Cruz stated that there are fatalities, without providing further details.
This incident has the potential to be the first deadly US commercial airline crash since 2009, when Colgan Air Flight 3407 crashed in Buffalo, New York, killing all 49 people on board.
Seven hours after the crash, no report of survivor.