A small American Airlines passenger plane carrying 64 people crashed into the Potomac River near Washington’s airport overnight (Wednesday to Thursday). Following the crash, all takeoffs and landings at the airport have been suspended, and emergency teams have been dispatched to the scene.
According to initial reports, the crash was caused by a collision between the plane and a Black Hawk military helicopter, which was on a training flight at the time of the incident. American Airlines confirmed that its aircraft was involved in the crash and stated that it is cooperating with authorities.
Rescue Operations Underway
Emergency crews are working urgently to locate survivors and recover bodies. So far, 19 bodies have been pulled from the water, but their identities have not yet been released.
Crash Moment Captured:
BREAKING: American Airlines Flight 5342 from Wichita, Kansas has crashed into a helicopter while landing at Reagan National Airport near Washington, DC#potomac #PotomacRiver pic.twitter.com/Ddq1qwa25S
— AJ Huber (@Huberton) January 30, 2025
President Trump Briefed on the Situation
President Donald Trump has been updated on the incident and continues to monitor developments. “I have been fully briefed. I am grateful to our rescue teams. I am following the situation closely and will provide further details as they emerge,” Trump said.
Senator Ted Cruz: “We Know There Are Fatalities”
Senator Ted Cruz wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that fatalities have been confirmed. “While we still do not know the total number of people on board, we do know there are casualties,” he stated without providing further details.
I am closely monitoring the situation at DCA, and I will receive a briefing from the FAA tomorrow. While we don’t yet know how many on board were lost, we know there are fatalities. Please join Heidi and me in praying for all involved as the search and rescue is underway.
— Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) January 30, 2025
