American Airlines jet, Army helicopter collide, crash into river in Washington
(VOVWORLD) - On the night of January 29, a US Army Black Hawk helicopter collided with an American Airlines passenger plane near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, causing both aircraft to crash into the Potomac River.
 Emergency service vehicles stand near the site of the crash after American Eagle flight 5342 collided with a helicopter while approaching Reagan Washington National Airport and crashed in the Potomac River, outside Washington, US on January 29, 2025.(Photo: Reuters) |
Police officers have pulled multiple bodies from the water, the Washington Post reported.
John Donnelly, Director of the Washington, D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department, reported that approximately 300 emergency responders were at the scene early on January 30 to conduct search and rescue operations.
However, icy and murky water conditions in the Potomac made the rescue efforts more challenging, and operations were expected to continue for several days. Meanwhile, US media outlets, including CNN and CBS News, reported that at least 18 bodies had been recovered from the river.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth confirmed that the Pentagon had launched an investigation into the collision. He stated that the Black Hawk helicopter was on a training flight at the time and had three military personnel on board.