American Eagle Flight 5342

American Eagle Flight 5342 collided with a U.S. Army Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter while preparing to land near Washington, D.C. on 29 January 2025. The collision occurred during the approach phase to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, above the Potomac River. The aircraft involved in the accident was a Bombardier CRJ-700 passenger plane operated by PSA Airlines. It is recorded as the deadliest aviation accident in the United States since 2001, with no survivors and 67 people killed.

Image of the Potomac River at the site of the incident – Anadolu Ajansı

As a result of the collision, both aircraft crashed into the Potomac River, causing significant loss of life. Following the accident, air traffic was temporarily suspended and emergency response teams were rapidly deployed to the scene. The incident is recorded as one of the largest aviation accidents in the United States since 2009 involving a commercial passenger aircraft.

Flight Information

Airline: PSA Airlines (American Eagle)

Flight Number: 5342

Aircraft Type: Bombardier CRJ-700

Tail Number: Unknown

Departure Point: Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower International Airport (ICT), Kansas

Destination: Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), Washington, D.C.

Number of Passengers: 60

Crew Members: 4

Total Persons Onboard: 64

Route of American Eagle Flight 5342 – Flightradar24

Helicopter Involved in Collision

Aircraft: Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk

Affiliated Institution: U.S. Army

Departure Location: Fort Belvoir, Virginia

Flight Purpose: Training Flight

Crew: 3 military personnel

It has been reported that the U.S. Army helicopter was conducting a routine training flight and was heading north along the Potomac River at the time of the collision.

Video graphic depicting the moment of collision – Anadolu Ajansı

Sequence of Events

Events Prior to Collision

17:18 EST – Flight 5342 departed from Wichita, Kansas.

20:39:40 EST – The UH-60 Black Hawk took off from Fort Belvoir for a training flight.

20:40 EST – Flight 5342 began its descent for landing on runway 33 at Reagan National Airport.

Moment of Collision

20:48:38 EST – Air traffic control contacted the Black Hawk helicopter using the identifier PAT25 call.

20:48:56 EST – Flight 5342 and the UH-60 helicopter collided at an altitude of approximately 300 feet (90 meters) above the Potomac River.

Post-Accident Rescue Operations

Following the accident, all flights at Reagan Airport were suspended. Emergency response teams rapidly initiated search and rescue operations on the Potomac River. Cold weather conditions complicated rescue efforts. Washington DC Fire Chief John Donnelly stated that the incident required “one of the most complex rescue operations in recent memory”.

Victims and Fatalities

There were no survivors from the accident. All 64 people aboard American Eagle Flight 5342 and the three military personnel aboard the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter lost their lives.

Investigation

Approximately 30 seconds before the collision, air traffic control alerted the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter and asked whether it had sighted the approaching passenger aircraft. The helicopter pilot reported having seen American Eagle Flight 5342 and assured controllers that he would safely maneuver away. However, no evasive action was taken after this communication, and the two aircraft collided above the Potomac River. No emergency calls were received from either pilot immediately after the collision.

To determine the causes of the accident and prevent similar incidents, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have launched a comprehensive investigation. The investigation is examining air traffic control recordings, final communications from the pilots, and the factors that contributed to the collision in detail.

Reactions

U.S. President Donald Trump criticized air traffic control and the helicopter crew on Truth Social for failing to prevent the collision. The U.S. Department of Defense announced that the incident would be thoroughly investigated and that new measures to enhance air traffic safety would be evaluated. Reagan Airport remained closed for at least 11 hour following the accident.

Similar Incidents

Air Florida Flight 90 (1982): Accident in which the aircraft crashed into the Potomac River, killing 74 people.

Colgan Air Flight 3407 (2009): Accident in which the aircraft crashed near New York, killing 49 people.