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BREAKING: Serious Plane Crash at Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., Many Feared Dead

Matt Vespa
Matt Vespa  |  January 29, 2025 9:30 PM

[UPDATES BELOW]

This post has been updated.

A press conference was held a little after 1 AM this morning. DC Mayor Muriel Bowser, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, and other elected leaders and first responders. There are no details about the number of fatalities. First responders will work throughout the night, which is difficult due to the lack of light, wind, and weather. It is hazardous for diving crews to operate under these conditions.


***UPDATED Post***

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We have a tragic mass casualty event at Reagan Airport in Washington, DC. Around 9 pm EST, a commercial airliner on approach collided with a military helicopter. Sixty-four people were on board what was later confirmed to be an American Airlines flight from Kansas. Initial reports were that it was a police helicopter, which was quickly dispelled. The US Army confirmed it was a Blackhawk helicopter, but no senior military personnel were onboard. Three soldiers were in the chopper. There are no survivors. Search and rescue is on the scene recovering the bodies.

Initial reports claim that a helicopter collided with a commercial airliner over the Potomac. Sixty-four people were reportedly onboard. We have a clip of the crash below. 

Here's footage of the mid-air collision:

UPDATE: Initial reports said a police helicopter was involved in the crash. That has been corrected, as it looks like it was a military helicopter. Scanners say that bodies are being recovered. We have no reports on the number of survivors. 

UPDATE II: The flight was reportedly coming into DC from Kansas.

UPDATE III: This is a major aviation accident. Pictures of the fuselage are pouring in.

UPDATE IV: It was a Blackhawk helicopter that crashed into an American Airlines flight. President Trump is aware of the situation.

UPDATE V: FAA released a statement on the crash.

UPDATE VI: Vice President JD Vance and American Airlines have reacted to the crash. So far, there have been no reports of any survivors.

UPDATE VII: CNN's Pete Muntean notes how this accident will change American aviation. DCA has had many close calls in the past.

This clearly, Abby, will be a tragedy that will change aviation. Mark my words now. You are looking now at the incredible response there on the shores of the Potomac River...This is really staggering that this has happened and there have been close call after close call involving commercial flights on the runways of commercial airports, major airports in the U.S., an incident, a spate of incidents that really took off in 2023. None of them ended up ending up occurring with a mid-air collision like we have seen here. The fact that this involved not only a commercial flight, which is equipped from top to bottom with anti-collision technology, something called TCAS -- Traffic Collision Avoidance System, mandated by the FAA in most commercial airliners since the early 90s, but also the pilots are well trained. The aviation system -- commercial aviation in the U.S. is the gold standard for safety. We are the example for every other country. There is not been a significant crash with fatalities, and we do not know if there are fatalities here in the U.S. involving a commercial flight since the Colgan air crash of 2009 led to sweeping changes in regulation and pilot experience requirements. The fact that this happened in D.C. over near Reagan National Airport, some of the busiest airspace in the country and one of the single busiest runways in the national airspace system, is really pretty incredible."

UPDATE VIII: NBC4 reports at least four survivors, though their condition is unknown. Given the images and the lack of confirmation, I don't think we should run with this just yet. 

UPDATE IX: The military helicopter had no senior military personnel onboard. Three soldiers were, however. 

UPDATE X: Trump's statement on the crash.

UPDATE XI: The Blackhawk helicopter wreckage has been located, but divers cannot enter it because it's not secure. Currently bobbing up and down in the Potomac. 

UPDATE XII: Reagan National Airport closed until 5 am Friday. CORRECTION: Reagan will re-open 11 am Friday. 

UPDATE XIII: At least 19 bodies have been recovered. Are there really four survivors? 

LAST UPDATE: The new images are harrowing, and it's unlikely that there are any survivors. 

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