[HIGHTECHDUDE]

Mid-air collision has left wreckage in shallow water near the shore of the Potomac River:

• CRJ-700 plane collided with Blackhawk helicopter
• Ground stop ordered at Reagan Airport
• Plane can hold over 60 passengers
• US Military says 3 soldiers were on board the helicopter
• Massive fireboat response
• Number of casualties unknown 67 Dead — NO SURVIVORS

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 just before 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.


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[Hogmann]

reported mid-air collision between a Regional Jet Landing at Reagan National Airport in Washington and possibly a helicopter. The debris appears to have landed in the Potomac River.

-merged, removed dup video - wm

[Hogmann]

BREAKING: Aircraft crash reported after apparent mid-air collision near National Airport
By ARLnow.com

A massive emergency response has been dispatched after an aircraft crash in the water near Reagan National Airport.
“Confirmed small aircraft down in Potomac River vicinity Reagan National Airport,” DC Fire and EMS said on social media. “Fireboats on scene.”

The Metropolitan Police Department said a “multi-agency search and rescue operation is underway in the Potomac River” after the crash.

“All takeoffs and landings have been halted at DCA,” the airport said on social media. “Emergency personnel are responding to an aircraft incident on the airfield. The terminal remains open. Will update.”

“I am following the response to a reported aviation incident at DCA, and am in touch with airport officials as we try to learn more about what happened and why,” Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) said in a statement. “This is obviously very worrying, but I urge the community to please let first responders do their jobs and save lives.”

Early reports suggest that the plane involved in the collision was an American Airlines flight from Wichita to Reagan National.

Initial, unconfirmed reports suggest a helicopter and a regional jet with up to 60 people on board collided mid-air. Video from the Kennedy Center webcam appears to show a fiery collision, over the Potomac River.

Fire boats and helicopters are being used to search for victims in the river. The incident has been deemed a mass casualty incident. Numerous deaths have been reported.

[Hogmann]

Where did you hear it was a police helicopter I'm now seeing some news articles that say it was a military Blackhawk

[Hogmann]

Also I requested the threads be merged

[HIGHTECHDUDE]

Originally Posted by Hogmann ↗

Where did you hear it was a police helicopter I'm now seeing some news articles that say it was a military Blackhawk

There's been a bit of conflicting reports. WH press sec. said it was a military, however first responders said it was a police helicopter and provided the tail number...

[Hogmann]

It's now being confirmed by multiple sources it was a US Army Blackhawk operating under the call sign Pat25. PAT stands for Priority Air transport which is the Army's "officer taxi".
Essentially a transportation service for high ranking officers. They also have a fleet of King airs and I think some midsize Jets

[UsedArtwork]

Why would the military helicopter be going so fast behind a commercial plane? It seems like it was aiming for it.

[Otimebomb]

All the wreckage is visible and in very shallow water.

[kellyhound]

64 people on the plane, 3 on the helicopter.

So far 19 bodies have been recovered from the River.

I'm afraid there will be no survivors.