The lethal midair collision involving an airplane and a army helicopter on Wednesday night time seems to have been caught on digicam.
Footage reveals a brilliant, fiery explosion as the 2 objects collide.
First responders had been “switching from a rescue operation to a restoration operation,” D.C. Fireplace and EMS Division Chief John Donnelly mentioned throughout a press convention on Thursday morning, noting that they don’t consider there are any crash survivors.
He indicated 27 our bodies had been recovered from the airplane, and one from the helicopter.
“A PSA Airways Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet collided in midair with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter whereas on strategy to Runway 33 at Reagan Washington Nationwide Airport round 9 p.m. native time,” the Federal Aviation Administration famous on Wednesday night time. “PSA was working as Flight 5342 for American Airways. It departed from Wichita, Kansas. The FAA and NTSB will examine. The NTSB will lead the investigation.”
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The chopper had been engaged in a “coaching mission” on the time of the collision, Ron McLendon II, Deputy Director, JTF-NCR/USAMDW Public Affairs famous.
“Whereas performing a coaching mission a United States Military UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter from Bravo Firm, twelfth Aviation Battalion, Davison Military Airfield, Fort Belvoir, Va., collided in midair with an American Airways Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet Flight 5342 final night time at Ronald Reagan Washington Nationwide Airport,” McLendon famous. “The FAA, NTSB and the USA Military will examine. The NTSB will lead the investigation. We’re working with native officers and can present any extra info as soon as it turns into obtainable.”
A senior U.S. Protection official mentioned one set of stays from the troopers on board the Black Hawk have been recovered from the crash scene.
The co-pilot, or pilot in command, was a feminine, the official advised Fox Information, and she or he had 500 hours of flying expertise.
The Black Hawk crew chief, recognized as Ryan O’Hara, was flying the Black Hawk and likewise being evaluated on the time. O’Hara had 1,000 hours of flight time.
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On Thursday night, the NTSB mentioned it had recovered vital proof that would piece collectively the ultimate moments earlier than Wednesday’s lethal midair collision.
In a press release to Fox Information, the company mentioned the cockpit voice recorder and flight information recorder from American Airways flight 5342 had been positioned and retrieved by NTSB investigators.
“The recorders are on the NTSB labs for analysis,” and NTSB spokesperson mentioned.
U.S. Determine Skating has indicated that members of its neighborhood had been on the airplane concerned within the crash.
“U.S. Determine Skating can verify that a number of members of our skating neighborhood had been sadly aboard American Airways Flight 5342, which collided with a helicopter yesterday night in Washington, D.C. These athletes, coaches, and members of the family had been returning dwelling from the Nationwide Growth Camp held at the side of the U.S. Determine Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas,” U.S. Determine Skating famous.
“We’re devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and maintain the victims’ households carefully in our hearts. We’ll proceed to watch the scenario and can launch extra info because it turns into obtainable,” the assertion added.
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Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., famous that he had landed on the DCA airport on a flight from Houston’s IAH airport shortly earlier than the collision occurred.
“I landed at DCA this night at 8:42pm, IAH—DCA, minutes earlier than an in-flight collision over the airport. My ideas are with all concerned and their households. Hoping first responders discover survivors,” the congressman famous on Wednesday night time.
President Donald Trump sounded off in regards to the crash on Fact Social.
“The airplane was on an ideal and routine line of strategy to the airport. The helicopter was going straight on the airplane for an prolonged time frame. It’s a CLEAR NIGHT, the lights on the airplane had been blazing, why didn’t the helicopter go up or down, or flip. Why didn’t the management tower inform the helicopter what to do as an alternative of asking in the event that they noticed the airplane. It is a unhealthy scenario that appears prefer it ought to have been prevented. NOT GOOD!!!” Trump declared in a submit shared shortly after midnight.
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Crew retrieve wreckage of American Airways flight 5342 within the Potomac river, Washington, DC, January 30, 2025. The airplane was concerned in a deadly collision with a U.S. Military Black Hawk helicopter final night time. (Leigh Inexperienced for Fox Information Digital)
“What a horrible night time this has been. God bless you all!” he added in one other submit.
Only one night time earlier than the devastating crash, a jet that attempted to land on the similar airport needed to circle round and make one other strategy after a helicopter approached its flight path, in line with experiences.
The Washington Submit reported that an audio recording from air site visitors management captured the encounter, and finally, Republic Airways Flight 4514 landed safely, flight monitoring software program reveals.
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The Embraer E-175 was cleared to land on the airport’s Runway 19 and suggested a couple of helicopter in its neighborhood. It executed a go-around maneuver after its automated collision avoidance system ordered what’s generally known as a ‘decision advisory’ to keep away from close by site visitors.
That put the plane out of correct alignment for touchdown, however was capable of land safely a number of minutes later, The Related Press reported.
The army helicopter was suggested of the airplane, which was flying roughly 1,000 ft above the helicopter, in line with flight monitoring websites cited by the AP.
Fox Information’ Louis Casiano, Jennifer Griffin, Melissa Summers and James Levison, in addition to The Related Press, contributed to this report.
