BREAKING: American Airlines plane crashes into Potomac River after mid-air collision with military helicopter

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One of the worst nightmares for travelers might have just happened. An American Airlines plane from Wichita, Kansas (Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport – ICT) to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) appears to have crashed into the Potomac River.

According to @DrEricDing on X, “American Airline flight ✈️ 5342 (American Eagle) has collided with a DC Police helicopter 🚁 on approach to DCA airport just over the Potomac River. The AA 5342 is a Bombardier CRJ700 with a capacity of 68-73 passengers.”

FlightAware, the flight tracking software, shows the flight path not completing its route and is just short of the airport (see screenshot above).

Webcam at the Kennedy Center caught an explosion mid-air across the Potomac. https://t.co/v75sxitpH6 pic.twitter.com/HInYdhBYs5

— Alejandro Alvarez (@aletweetsnews) January 30, 2025

There’s also disturbing video from the webcam at the Kennedy Center, catching an explosion mid-air across the Potomac. See video embedded above. The tweet reads: “There is a significant response from fire, EMS, and police for an aircraft reported down in the Potomac River near Reagan National Airport. Initial reports of a possible midair collision. Victims have been found by one of the rescue boats. @ARLnowDOTcom”

The American Airlines aircraft, which was operated by PSA Airlines, was a Canadair Regional Jet CRJ-700 (twin-jet). It can hold between 63 and 78 passengers. According to Seatguru, this plane had 63 seats, not including crew, which would be two pilots and two flight attendants.

This is a developing story. Please pray for everyone onboard but it’s not looking good.

Update: DC Police have confirmed it’s not their helicopter as they tweeted: “MPD’s helicopter is NOT involved in this incident and is currently assisting in the multi-agency response.”

MPD’s helicopter is NOT involved in this incident and is currently assisting in the multi-agency response.

— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) January 30, 2025

According to Sky News the plane collided with a Black Hawk (Sikorsky H-60) helicopter which is U.S. government.

Update # 2: American Airlines has confirmed to CNN there were 60 passengers and four crew members on the plane and the Black Hawk helicopter had three U.S. Army crew members.

According to National Airspace System Ronald Reagan Washington National is closed. Prior to that at 5:51pm local time they posted a ground stop “due to aircraft emergency.”