2025 Potomac River mid-air collision

On January 29, 2025, a Bombardier CRJ700 airliner operating as American Airlines Flight 5342 (operated by PSA Airlines as American Eagle) and a United States Army Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter operating as Priority Air Transport 25 collided in mid-air over the Potomac River in Washington, D.C.. The collision happened at 8:47 p.m., at an altitude of about 300 feet, close to runway 33 at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia. Sadly, all 67 people aboard both aircraft were killed.

This event marked the first major US commercial passenger flight crash since Colgan Air Flight 3407 in 2009 and the deadliest US air disaster since the crash of American Airlines Flight 587 in 2001. It was also the third hull loss and first fatal accident involving the CRJ700 series.

Investigations showed that several factors led to the crash, including the Federal Aviation Administration placing the helicopter route too close to the runway approach path, failures in oversight, and pilot error. The National Transportation Safety Board made urgent safety recommendations after the accident.

Background

Aircraft

Flight 5342 was a 20-year-old Bombardier CRJ700, a small jet used for short trips. It took off from Wichita and was heading to Washington. The helicopter was a US Army Sikorsky UH-60L Black Hawk, used for carrying important officials. It was on a routine check flight when the collision happened.

Passengers and crew

The helicopter had three crew members, and the airplane had 64 passengers and crew, including two pilots and two flight attendants.

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport

Reagan National Airport has busy airspace with many flights. On the night of the collision, there were fewer air traffic controllers than usual, which may have made it harder to manage all the aircraft safely. The airport has three runways, with runway 33 handling some smaller planes.

Casualties

The tragic collision claimed the lives of all 67 people on board both aircraft. Among the passengers on the jet were 28 members of the U.S. Figure Skating community, including athletes, coaches, and family members returning from a camp held with the 2025 U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas. This group included eleven young skaters aged 11 to 16, thirteen parents, and four experienced coaches.

Other passengers represented various nationalities, including individuals from China, the Philippines, Poland, France, and Denmark. The loss deeply affected the figure skating world, comparable to past tragedies in the sport.

Aftermath

After the tragic collision, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) restricted helicopter flights near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. They closed certain routes to most traffic, allowing only police, medical, air defense, and presidential transport flights. American Airlines also retired the flight number involved and planned to use a new number for its route.

In the days following the accident, two staff members from the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority were taken into custody for allegedly sharing surveillance footage of the crash with CNN. A vigil was held in Wichita to honor the memory of those who were lost, with many feeling the impact of the loss of athletes and the city's efforts to improve its air service.

Investigation

The National Transportation Safety Board, the FAA, the US Department of Defense, the US Army, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation all announced they would investigate the collision. The NTSB sent a team to the accident site and recovered the flight recorder, called a "black box," from both the airplane and the helicopter.

Investigators found that the helicopter was flying above the required altitude for that area. They are looking into why the helicopter’s safety system, known as ADS-B, was not broadcasting. There was also only one air traffic controller managing both aircraft, which was unusual. The NTSB made safety recommendations to prevent similar accidents in the future, including changing helicopter routes near the airport during certain airplane landings and takeoffs.

Lawsuit

On February 18, 2025, a lawyer named Robert A. Clifford filed a lawsuit seeking $250 million for one of the victims of Flight 5342. The lawsuit targeted the Federal Aviation Administration and the US Army, claiming that mistakes and failures led to the crash. The government admitted some responsibility, saying an air traffic controller did not follow proper rules. More families joined this case, and another lawsuit for $200 million was filed by a different lawyer shortly after. The lawsuits are being handled by a judge, who warned everyone to avoid discussing the case publicly. American Airlines denied that they were at fault. Many more families have also filed similar lawsuits against the government and the airline.

Responses

American Airlines’ CEO said he was very sad and promised to work with investigators to find out why the accident happened. An aviation safety expert suggested better safety rules to avoid similar incidents.

President Donald Trump was told about the crash quickly. He later talked about the accident online, questioning the actions of air traffic controllers and criticizing some hiring policies. Many leaders, including other politicians and aviation experts, disagreed with his comments, saying they were unfair and hurtful during a time of grief. Leaders around the world, including the International Olympic Committee, Pope Francis, and several government officials, offered their sympathies to the families of those affected.

Memorial

A memorial bench is planned to be built in Alexandria by the Potomac River. It will be placed near where the accident happened and will include the names of all 67 people who were on board the two aircraft.