At least 20 people were killed when a PSA Airlines regional passenger jet collided midair with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter on Wednesday night near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
The passenger jet, en route from Wichita, Kansas, crashed into the Potomac River following the collision, triggering an extensive emergency response. The crash occurred around 9 p.m. local time, leading to the grounding of all flights at the airport.
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Search and rescue teams, including fireboats, were deployed in freezing, dark conditions, recovering bodies from the water. Four survivors were reported to have been pulled from the river.
The Bombardier regional jet, operated by PSA Airlines (a subsidiary of American Airlines), had 60 passengers and four crew members aboard. The plane was nearing Washington D.C. when it collided with the Sikorsky H-60 Black Hawk helicopter, which was carrying three soldiers.
The FAA grounded all flights at Reagan National Airport as authorities initiated a full investigation into the crash, with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) set to help determine the cause. American Airlines issued a statement, offering condolences to those affected by the tragedy.
The incident has raised concerns about air safety, with investigations focusing on coordination between the two aircraft and air traffic control. President Donald Trump was briefed on the situation and expressed his condolences, while Sara Nelson of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA offered support to the families impacted.
