An American Airlines regional jet with 64 people aboard collided with a Black Hawk military helicopter near Washington D.C.’s Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday night, the Federal Aviation Administration said.
The PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jetliner collided with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter while the passenger jet was approaching Runway 33 at the airport around 9 p.m. ET, the FAA said. Flight 5342 was arriving from Wichita, Kansas.
Sixty passengers and four crew members were on board the American flight, the airline said.
“Our concern is for the passengers and crew on board the aircraft,” American said in a statement. “We are in contact with authorities and assisting with emergency response efforts.”
The airline provided contact information if “you believe you may have loved ones on board Flight 5342.”
The U.S. Army confirmed that the aircraft was an Army helicopter out of Fort Belvoir, Virginia. “We are working with local officials and will provide additional information once it becomes available,” the Army said in a statement.
The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the incident.
Local officials confirmed that at least one aircraft was in the Potomac River. Images on social media showed a large presence of emergency responders. Reagan Washington National was closed Wednesday night, the FAA said.
President Donald Trump said he was briefed on the incident.
“Thank you for the incredible work being done by our first responders,” he said in a statement.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy was sworn in on Tuesday. The Transportation Department didn’t immediately comment.
It was not immediately clear if there were casualties. The U.S. has had a long stretch without fatal commercial airline crashes. The last U.S. commercial passenger airline crash occurred in February 2009 as Continental Flight 3407 crashed into a house as it was arriving in Buffalo, New York, killing all 49 people aboard and one person on the ground.
The crash of the turboprop plane prompted federal regulations requiring more rest and training for pilots.
PSA Airlines is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Airlines.
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