American Airlines regional jet carrying 64 collides midair with military helicopter near D.C. airport

An American Airlines regional jet with 64 people aboard collided with a military helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport outside Washington, D.C., Wednesday night, the Federal Aviation Administration said.

The PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jetliner collided with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter while the passenger jet was on approach around 9 p.m. ET to Runway 33 at the airport, the FAA said. Flight 5342 was arriving from Wichita, Kansas.

Sixty passengers and four crew members were on board the American flight, according to a person familiar with the details.

The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board as investigating the incident.

The PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jetliner collided with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter while the passenger jet was on approach around 9 p.m. ET to Runway 33 at the airport, the FAA said. Flight 5342 was arriving from Wichita, Kansas.

Local officials confirmed that at least one aircraft was in the Potomac River. Images on social media showed a large presence of emergency responders. Reagan Washington National was closed, the FAA said.

American Airlines posted on X that it was aware of the incident and would provide information as it became available. President Donald Trump was briefed on the incident, the White House press office said in a statement.

The airline’s website says its CRJ-700 aircraft have 65 seats.

The National Transportation Safety Board will lead the investigation into the incident.

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