Plane Crash In US: Passenger Jet Collides With Helicopter Midair Near Washington's Reagan Airport
Date
1/29/2025 11:25:50 PM
(MENAFN- Khaleej Times)
A passenger jet from Kansas crashed into Washington's Potomac River after colliding mid-air with a military helicopter near Reagan National Airport, officials said on Wednesday, prompting a major emergency response and grounding all flights.
US President Donald trump "has been made aware of this situation and tragically it appears that a military helicopter collided with a regional jet", press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Fox News.
There was no immediate information about how many people were aboard either aircraft or about casualties.
PSA Airlines was operating Flight 5342 for American Airlines, which had departed from Wichita, Kansas, said the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA). According to American Airlines' website, the jet has a capacity for up to 65 passengers.
The FAA ordered the grounding of all planes at Reagan airport, and Washington's police said on X that "multiple agencies" were responding to the crash site in the Potomac.
Police said fireboats had joined the operation on the chilly Potomac River.
The FAA said a PSA Airlines Bombardier regional jet "collided in midair" with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter as it approached for landing at Reagan at around 9pm (0200 GMT). The plane had left from Wichita, Kansas.
The National Transportation Safety Board said it was gathering more information on the incident.
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