Some Portions of Either (Possibly Both) Aircraft Are Reported Down In The Potomac

ANN Update (01.30.25, 1030ET): After a tough night searching, the rescue operations have turned to recovery... there were 60 pax on the CRJ, along with 4 crew. Three soldiers were aboard the BalckHawk which was on a training mission. No survivors are expected, leaving a toll of 67 souls lost. The blame game has already started in earnest, conspiracy whack jobs are foaming at the mouth and the general media proves once again that it has little skill in reporting aviation topics... sigh. We will update htis story this afternoon after we source a few issues associated with this tragedy... which is likely to have long-term consequnces. -- Jim Campbell, ANN CEO/E-I-C.

A chilly Wednesday night was tragically interrupted as an approaching CRJ 701ER was involved in a collision off the end of DCA Rwy 33 shortly before 2100ET. 

Social media is showing video, apparently pulled from the webcam at the Kennedy Center,  that purports to be the actual collision. Early reports confirm that the CRJ, AA5342, N709PS, was inbound from Wichita and was on short approach when the accident occurred, with the last trace showing it terminating its flightpath mid-river. The American Airlines flight was a PSA Airlines operation conducted as American Eagle. There are no credible passenger/crew counts for either vehicle at htis time.

The other aircraft involved, callsign PAT25, was reported by government sources as being an Army Blackhawk, who appeared to have reported the CRJ (or some other aircraft) in sight before the collision. The fate and more ID Info on the Blackhawk is limited at this time, but if either aircraft went down in the Potomac, as has been widely reported, the water temp is reported as approximately 35 degrees, making survivable for anyone who may have survived the actual accident highly problematic. 

Reagan National has been closed and audio of the local controllers showed quickly responding and vectoring traffic out and away from DCA, while asking local helo operators if any of them had searchlight capability and the potential to aid on a rescue or recovery operation. 

A massive emergency response has taken place with dozens of ground and boat units on site

The FAA furnished a limited statement a little over an hour after the accident stating that, ""A PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet collided in midair with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter while on approach to Runway 33 at Reagan Washington National Airport around 9 p.m. local time. PSA was operating Flight 5342 for American Airlines. It departed from Wichita, Kansas. The FAA and NTSB will investigate. The NTSB will lead the investigation. We will provide updates as information comes in..." 

Early reports of a DC POlice helicopter's involvement were later denied, before the Army H-60 Sikorsky Blackhawk was later ID'ed.

While the NTSB will take on the primary investigation, it can't help the scenario at hand that there is no actual FAA Administrator (outside of an Acting position) to drive the FAA's efforts accordingly. 

ANN will update this story as relevant and credible information occurs... which is in precious short supply when it comes to the general media... 

FMI: www.ntsb.gov