By Shawn Gallagher
On Wednesday night at around 9pm local time in Washington DC, PSA Airlines operating American Airlines flight 5342 was reported to have collided with a helicopter on final approach into Washington Reagon National Airport.
Here’s a quick look at everything we know so far.
Incident
The flight involved is American Airlines AA5342, operated by PSA Airlines. The flight originated in Wichita, Kansas en route to Washington on a 2 hour 10 minute flight.
The aircraft involved is N709PS, a 20 year old CRJ-700 delivered back in September 2004.
As seen in the above photo, Flightradar24 data shows AA5342 on final approach into runway 33 at Reagan Airport and cuts off shortly before the runway. Somewhere over the river is where the aircraft is presumed to have collided with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter.
American Airlines confirms that 60 souls were on board (60 passengers plus 4 crew). The US Army says that the Black Hawk helicopter was carrying 3 soldiers.
As of Thursday morning, no survivors are expected according to DC EMS.
Videos circled around social media showing 2 aircraft colliding mid-air over the DC night.
Soon after the incident, Reagan Airport closed and a ground stop was initiated by the FAA. Inbound flights into DCA were diverted to nearby Dulles Airport.
This is the first major commercial airline crash in the US since February 12, 2009.
Statements
FAA’s full statement:
“A PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet collided in midair with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter while on approach to Runway 33 at Reagan Washington National Airport around 9 p.m. local time. PSA was operating as Flight 5342 for American Airlines. It departed from Wichita, Kansas.
The FAA and NTSB will investigate. The NTSB will lead the investigation. We will provide updates as information comes in.”
American Airlines also released a statement. From X:
Potomac River History
This is not the first time the Potomac River and Reagan Airport have seen an incident over the river. On January 13, 1982, Air Florida Flight 90 stalled and crashed into the Potomac River and the 14th Street Bridge.
This incident was 43 years ago, and we just passed that 43 year mark just a couple of weeks ago.
This article will be updated when more information is confirmed.
Featured image by Kevin Porter, Shutterstock.