Latest on Catastrophic American Airlines DC Plane Crash

A regional jet flown for American Airlines Group collided in a deadly midair crash with a military helicopter around Washington, DC, halting operations at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and prompting a search and rescue operation in the Potomac River. The plane, operated by subsidiary PSA Airlines, collided with a Sikorsky H-60 Black Hawk helicopter while on approach to Reagan airport at around 9 p.m. local time, the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement Wednesday night. The flight departed from Wichita, Kansas, with 60 passengers and four crew on board, American Airlines said. There were three airmen aboard the military helicopter out of Fort Belvoir, Virginia, according to an Army official who asked not to be identified discussing details that hadn’t been publicly disclosed.
Bloomberg's reporter Tiwa Adebayo joins Stephen Carroll on Bloomberg Radio with the latest updates on this moving story.
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[@frednotgeorge]

this has been the longest January on record

[@Cartier_specialist]

The craziest January in at least 4 years.

[@bobdavis1895]

It has been terrifying and will only get worse.

[@RespectMyAuthoritaah]

@@Cartier_specialist The craziest January in the last 4 years followed Biden's inauguration as President.

[@davecrupel2817]

Honest to God @_e

[@kellypg]

​@@bobdavis1895there's that positive attitude we all need right now.

[@DrSpoculus]

Who tf flies a chopper in an approach lane?

[@danielschiller6785]

At night as well.

[@kellypg]

3 soldiers apparently.

[@detective0532]

Evidently, the military.

[@tomdaley9154]

Its a very normal and approved route for both aircraft. Just not supposed to be at the same time obviously

[@anthonyvaleroso921]

Definitely the chopper pilots fault.

[@infinidominion]

Helicopter crashed right into the Jet..... whether accidental or malicious is now the question

[@Earwaxfire909]

Videos show that the helicopter crashed into the back of the plane. This suggests the pilots of the helicopter were at fault.

[@Sharon-bo2se]

You can see it on the video. Plane was on its landing approach. The Black Hawk can be seen coming straight and level on the plane's starboard. Horrible and tragic.

[@Dron51984]

*Need to check the helicopter pilots, maybe they are doing it on purpose, some kind of terrorists.*

[@bobdavis1895]

The pilot had to either do it deliberately or be unconscious, because the plane was directly in front of it.

[@ReyesSerna-ez7ob]

That's what I said it's the helicopters fault and I pray for the people who lost their lives 🙏🙏

[@barrybb5409]

Plane had a bunch of russians on it. Wasnt an accident.

[@allisonlew4508]

How is this possible? Such a tragedy.

[@wasjosh]

Heli was given a commonly used shortcut thats against FAA policies while also having instructed the AA plane descend, causing the causing the AA place to plop down on top of the AA plane perhaps.

[@R.Oates7902]

Incompetence

[@BuckBlaziken]

Someone was not following the Washington DC flight height regulations

[@WilcoxNotreallythere]

The military is to blame here. They must have gone dark.

[@BonnieCain-z2k]

A training mission. Probably why.

[@lenitacrueger895]

My heart and prayers go out to all involved.

[@Krazede]

Maybe now they will shut Reagan down. It has long been an accident waiting to happen with ALL of the restricted airspace that surrounds it. The only reason it has remained open is to accommodate politicians. They must endure a 45 min. car ride from IAD, but if they land at Reagan they are just a short trip to their offices in Congress. I was a flight attendant for TWA, and every pilot I ever flew into Reagan with hated the approach and takeoff because of the restricted airspace!

[@robblackburn6367]

That is not exactly a new airport. There has to be an airport convenient to Washington D.C.

[@VoteForBukele]

You sound like a crazy person.

[@bmack6180]

I hear ya... but sounds like the helicopter was in the planes airspace. Hope that budget freeze didn't affect air traffic control.

[@mattrapp3044]

@@bmack6180seriously, look up what the budget freeze would have entailed. Has nothing to do with this. Dumb comment

[@davecrupel2817]

​@@robblackburn6367 as we've learned time and time again, just because something is old and has been around for a long time, doesn't make it a good thing.

[@JS-hb8nk]

Military training mission in public airspace at night time??

[@kevinskiles2033]

Do you think they only train during the day?

[@Dusk62]

Night Reconnaissance

[@robblackburn6367]

They sometimes have helicopters like that at the Pentagon, which is near Reagan Airport.

[@Humility02]

missing the point that badly? The objective reality is that they messed up, It’s not about when or how often they do it.

[@davidwhitten3596]

​@Dusk62 Yeah they have to recon the DC area

[@peterengland6153]

There is pdf on the FAA web site showing regulated helicopter air routes around Washington DC together with MAX flight heights. The Black Hawk Call sign PAT25 was flying south on route 4 pass Regan Airport with MAX height marked as 200 feet. The collision according to data was 350 feet. Why was PAT25 at 350 feet and not 200 feet?

[@juliusbraxton7313]

I don’t want no cred no nothing, I’ll tell you this from the ground that helicopter looked as if it was purposely trying to crash into it before it landed, that thing was going full throttle. As if the chopper was trying to catch up to it. IDK, at first it looked like one of those drones, but they say it was a helicopter…

[@WilcoxNotreallythere]

Because it was flying dark and that was the last known location @200

[@MK-mt4kn]

@@juliusbraxton7313yeah, it absolutely looked that way. The chopper seemed to accelerate into that plane. I don’t see how that could have been “accidental.”

[@MK-mt4kn]

@@juliusbraxton7313it was a helicopter, not a drone.

[@millieatcentralcagarden9764]

Another news station said some US figure skaters and 2 Russian coaches was also on board. RIP to those that passed.

[@27.10.]

So sad😢

[@elaineisabelle427]

It sure looked like the other way around, the helicopter sure looked like it collided with the plane.

[@barrybb5409]

Plane was full of russians. So likely was intentional. Israel wants a war with usa and russia and has pushed for it since they stole palestine by claiming they were holocausted instead if starting ww2 to holocaust white europeans.

[@BryanSchmidtSchmidty]

I really hope everyone survives, but I fear that the circumstances are too difficult for most people to survive, especially since nobody was prepared for this. My prayers go out to all those affected by this event ❤

[@user-semperfifly]

I’m sorry to say Sir, that unless passenger’s and the flight crew members were pulled out from the frigid water immediately, they are all deceased. The temperature of the water and the wind chill would cause hypothermia. All of these people lost their lives. It’s a horrible way to go. And a tragedy.

[@rhrh2025]

What is a military helecopter doing flying that low over a civilian airport?

[@karich21]

the military helicopters cross the river around the area where the crash occurred. The base is located nearby the airport.

[@rhrh2025]

Thanks!

[@JesusChrist-rn6hl]

👽👎🏻

[@WilcoxNotreallythere]

I bet you they were flying dark too.

[@Paulie-v2t]

"Training exercises" in the the short approach to a major airport?

[@MgtowMoose]

Military shouldn't even be there. Operations for military should be restricted

[@ufp1701]

Why is a helicopter flying perpendicular across the approach path less than 1 mile from the end of the active runway when a plane cleared to land is literally 1/2 mile from the threshold???

[@JesusChrist-rn6hl]

Why ask? 👽

[@ufp1701]

@JesusChrist-rn6hl Because I am a pilot and it's extremely unsafe to have traffic crossing the approach end of an active runway with 100 foot altitude separation

[@JesusChrist-rn6hl]

@ Get over yourself

[@fishehunteral2280]

This is similar to a dui person driving forward on the opposite side of the freeway

[@jin.24.]

As a Korean, I feel so sorry for this incident. Many people were died in plane accidents in Korea, and it is sad that there have been plane accidents in the United States. I hope the accident will be resolved soon.

[@bronkman96]

FOR THE MILITARY IN AMERICA I PRAY IT HAS NOT ESCALATED FROM DRIVING TRUCKS INTO CROWDS IN NEW ORLEANS TO FLYING MILITARY HELICOPTERS INTO COMMERCIAL PLANES.

[@JennifyrGilmore]

Ya KNOW... I agree with that possibility & 🙏 it's NOT true 😢

[@paiiininthebuttt2477]

Where there’s smoke there’s fire… sounds intentional to me

[@SpicyBeautifulDisaster]

Let’s not speculate about that until more information is released

[@janismurray2454]

Excellent comprehensive reporting.

[@CherryMaraschino77]

Accident? The planes didn’t collide. With clear visibility, there’s no way the Black Hawk didn’t see the large plane ahead of it. Something doesn’t seem right here.

[@juliusbraxton7313]

Also ppl are forgetting months of drones sightings in the air over military bases flying in restricted airspace especially over DC and NY, as soon as the drone sightings dwindle, this happens…

[@godisgood1359]

​@@juliusbraxton7313The drone activity has been picking back up again

[@libbyofthelight]

❤ Oh, dear! So very sad! God bless these souls at this time, & give peace, comfort & love to all family members involved. So sorry about this devastating crash!! 01/30/2025 2:45am, Central time in Alabama.

[@Dron51984]

RIP, 12:52 Samara/Rus

[@stacyfetters]

Prayers for all involved

[@wendygerrish4964]

Excellent update. Best in media besides Juan Brown.

[@ameli0168]

But why allow a helicopter to train on restricted civilian airspace. Lawyers? I mean the payout on this? Is it the military? Can we get a full disclosure on this one. There has to be a better way where you don't need to bring a Civilian plan down?

[@marybowles6908]

Why are the military flying in the commercial lane?? There are alarms that go off before telling pilots to either go up or down!! This day n time this shouldn't have happened!! Makes no sense!!!

[@Paulie-v2t]

Helicopters don't have CAS (Collision Avoidance System)

[@IrrelevantInformation]

"A very serious and tragic accident has taken place"..."so we're going to run ads on our video to monetize the deaths of the victims and suffering of their loved ones". Donate the ad revenue from this video to the families instead of padding your pockets using a tragedy.

[@abcdefghi9356]

What happened to there radar technology.

[@Mathews47.]

Sorry to hear this news hopefully everyone ok

[@SpamMouse]

No TCAS on military aircraft ?

[@MarkGrudt]

Military helicopter flew into American Airlines plane.

[@ClaytonTurner-d1k]

Was that bob manendez's plane?

[@shamsunnisa9941]

So Sad😢😢

[@jloveinnc]

That should never happen

[@Shaun619]

Stop blaming trump for this tragedy that has nothing to do with him show empathy to the victims of this tragedy 😭this is heartbreaking 💔 non the less

[@brucedubby6449]

Thanks Trump

[@EarthSublime_369]

I know right.

[@JesusChrist-rn6hl]

👽👎🏻

[@antoniodelgado91]

This is definitely on Trump. He just disbanded the aviation security advisory group without a plan to replace it.

[@NeerajKumar-fv1vq]

Prayers for Survivors

[@cyndigrissom5998]

Pray

[@rajajaved1986]

Ma'am, cctv footage or film is available for this collision? We are very sorry for your loss. From PTI Pakistan

[@LeslieDanugo]

HEBREWS 9:27-29. AMEN.

[@rodtad7210]

the water is only 8 ft deep?

[@julietk7918]

Control tower signals communications might be at fault?

[@AlonzoJohnson-l4m]

Why😢

[@TravisAndRuby]

Avoidable. 💯

[@cheyennemauritz9911]

No the helicopter crashed into the plane

[@JesusChrist-rn6hl]

So ? 👽👎🏻

[@hologramhouse729]

A Classic "Oopsy"

[@godisgood1359]

What i dont get is from what i have heard is that the pilot of the chopper and The Air Control were in different radio channels. Why would that Helicopter be up in the air if they were not on the same Channel? Idk, but my heart breaks for everyone 😞

[@mattcamp-kx7tt]

There is a lot of helicopter traffic in DC.

[@JakeDaniels-ec6qi]

is it a confirmed military helicopter cause I'm hearing that's not confirmed yet.

[@chab1rd155]

Yes, an army Blackhawk

[@chab1rd155]

Yes an army Blackhawk

[@anthonyvaleroso921]

Definitely the chopper pilots fault.

[@HeidiSweeney-v3v]

Looks like the helicopter flew directly into the plane. Mid air incidents so rare. Hoping it is just an accident

[@mustbetrippin7406]

I can fly both helicopters and planes and I can tell ya this is BIZARRE.

[@midwestlabor2599]

So many conspiracy nuts in the comments. You people need legitimate therapy

[@KokoMoorad]

Nah actually we are finding out more and more everyday it’s people like you who are dangerous.

[@Barbara-b8y]

I remember back in the early eighties when air😢 Florida flight crashed into the Potomac River

[@maris5888]

A big portion of US figure skating team was there😢

[@breestackss]

😲😞

[@LolaP-q8l]

😢😢😢

[@CMmmm-w7t]

Please explain

[@willowJ-nb3iy]

Oh no 😢

[@katkaybeeloved]

@@CMmmm-w7tthere were young skaters, their families and coaches on the plane coming back from skating camp in Kansas

[@stickynorth]

Some passengers on board were coming back from Wichita after the national figure skating championships there recently including former Russian World Pairs champions now working as American coaches... Very tragic...

[@JesusChrist-rn6hl]

The sticky north 😂🤣👽👍🏻

[@elizabethbrown8833]

Heartbreaking 💔🥀🙏

[@agussuherman7463]

stupidest accident in 2025!.

[@sergvegas5446]

That was NOT an accident!. Its called homegrown extremists and radical terrorists" in the U.S. especially in our military🤦‍♂️

[@artaslanian2450]

I see people have no responsibility and power apon they have created..

[@JesusChrist-rn6hl]

They don’t 👽

[@susanabrown1736]

No survivors?

[@Cartier_specialist]

It sure appears to be a very bleak chance for any survivors in water that cold and air temperatures below freezing. Even if anyone survived the impact.

[@JesusChrist-rn6hl]

I survived 👽👍🏻

[@JustinSmith-v4k]

They just crashed a jet in Alaska a few hours before this.... not good.

[@xMythicalSnowqueenx]

Ok, I just read somewhere on youtube russian skaters were on the plane and I just found this post from two months a go...The American multi-purpose helicopter "Black Hawk" is used by Ukrainian fighters during training 🤔 Although to me it looked like just a terrible accident ,now I am questioning it . R.I.P to all who lost their lifes 😢

[@AO-gn4hc]

Trump has a lot of experience with aviation incident investigations so surely it makes sense that he would chime in with his opinion.

[@leoisstellar]

I think we better stick with the Country White guys to fight the Cartels. Forget Delta and Seal 6 Team or any other military teams as...we will be better off without them.

[@Spookmeagain]

That helicopter deliberately crashed into that plane. Who was it after.

[@JesusChrist-rn6hl]

👽

[@juliusbraxton7313]

Think about this, why shoot the plane out the sky causing public panic, crash a helicopter into it and call it an accident. Hence The helicopter flying full speed into the plane at night at altitudes that it wasn’t supposed to be flying… Months and months of drones now this. 🤔

[@arunikahelio9289]

Fishy

[@linnepinzel]

My goodness May God bless their souls Prayers sending 🙏

[@JesusChrist-rn6hl]

👽👎🏻

[@linnepinzel]

@ What is wrong feeling sorry for the family’s involved with this tragedy? I don’t understand your comment I’m sorry

[@JesusChrist-rn6hl]

@ wah wah wah 👽👎🏻

[@linnepinzel]

And your username is a huge shame

[@JesusChrist-rn6hl]

@ I am God. Why would I be ashamed of my name. Just because you don’t like the truth doesn’t mean it’s not true. 🤟🏻👽

[@moehendrxx7964]

Blackhawk definitely seen that CRJ. Either he experienced a maintenance issue or he purposely flew right into that aircraft smh

[@ChiicoLachowskii]

Dei

[@catherinelee3298]

American Eagle

[@JesusChrist-rn6hl]

American penguins 🐧

[@user-semperfifly]

If there WERE any survivor’s, they would not make it due to the temperature of the water and the wind chill which would clearly cause hypothermia. I’m so sorry for all whom have been affected by this tragedy.

[@cristinamora7791]

Ay no !

[@Adrian-j2x8e]

Mmhmm

[@mayankrana648]

well new year is not looking good for americans

[@suppasitchotisasiton8719]

Divers for rescue mission...

[@eattherich9215]

Trump's responses: 'this shouldn't have happened' and 'Why didn't the control tower tell the helicopter what to do ...'. No thoughts, prayers or message of condolence.

[@brianna56ism]

The chopper was told what to do

[@majormediaproductions]

😮‍💨Bro she lost, just accept it. New Sheriff in town whether you like it or not

[@justaplainspokengirl]

He needs to stay out of it until the real professionals can access the details.

[@Dusk62]

@@justaplainspokengirlas the President he has a responsibility to speak about it based on info he he from has received from NTSB, FAA and Army Safety Center.

[@CarpeUniversum]

@@majormediaproductions You know.. it's funny you read the comment that way. I read it as though the op was pleased with the efficiency and professionalism, and lack of bs. you read it as them whining. I guess we all see what we expect to, eh?

[@EnglishRefugeeSOS]

Whats the background of the passengers. Who was onboard? Wondering...

[@newbeginningsn.u.t.p.o.G]

Ok could it been prevented your messyness

[@cyndigrissom5998]

Trust in the Lord..not your own Understanding . Keep praying for miracles

[@quarstrongforce]

pacific southeast airline. the wind blew the heli around. just like the wild fire near LA, natrual diaster, stop blame on Joseph and Mary Jane

[@georgiosdem8443]

Tragedy..The accident could have been avoided if the Air Traffic Controller in the Control Tower had done his job correctly.

[@Paulie-v2t]

ATC doesn't control helicopter routes, especially military.

[@georgiosdem8443]

​@@Paulie-v2t All aircraft, whether airplanes or helicopters, are controlled by the control tower. The air traffic controller in the Control Tower had to give the helicopter an order to change altitude. The air traffic controller is 100% responsible.

[@arunikahelio9289]

So who was on that plane? And why was the plane a target. And or why helicopter with it's technology could not see the plan?

[@christinehartgers8877]

Could it have been prevented if Trump didn’t put an incompetent loyalist in charge as well as the firing of extremely important federal employees? RIP to all that have lost their lives and prayers to all of their families.

[@anoopbalan4119]

😢

[@kathyh4804]

It makes me wonder who was on the plane?😢Its very odd

[@des2892]

How did this happen with all the technology available to prevent something like this from happening

[@Mister_Rooster]

When Trump talked about unleashing the military, this is not what I expected

[@bipbip6626]

Helicopter….without a pilot? Did it stop another 9 /11?

[@-Svetlana---]

Three military were on board the helicopter.

[@ScotlandHasMyHeart]

And it was a training exercise it’s been reported. The Blackhawk was Army.

[@stevewilson6390]

AA was coming in to land! No pilot in the helicopter? Stop your nonsense.

[@Williamb612]

Probably was a chopper rounding up illegal immigrants

[@Es36986]

😢😢

[@roro-v3z]

Was it Boeing

[@midwestlabor2599]

Look at all these "experts" in the comments.

[@RespectMyAuthoritaah]

Maybe they should look at the DEI hires working in the Air Traffic Control (ATC) Tower that day. Somebody had to authorize those course headings and altitudes. Kind of sounds like the same thing as a door falling off the airplane doesn't it. Then you find out the whole crew responsible for ensuring the doors don't fall off airplanes are all DEI hires. It wont be popular, but ATC is responsible for Air Traffic Control of that air space.

[@Cannoli_JJ]

感謝美國佬送的中國新年煙花！🤣👉🤡🇺🇸

[@JesusChrist-rn6hl]

👽👍🏻

[@dianeruguian465]

DID YOU ESCAPE FROM CHINA MENTAL HOSPITAL?

[@JesusChrist-rn6hl]

@@dianeruguian465 They escaped that helicopter before the crash 👽

[@MATSAN-h7u]

Trump : Act of terror. Then he point another country to attack. American : Stupidity agree. Haha😂

[@marycrawford3460]

that makes no sense

[@invectiva]

Nope, that was the last crew😉 she lost, get over it lil fella.

[@Vagabond671]

People are dead and you're laughing...

[@Dusk62]

Show you are ab idiot

[@RyanMathews-ld7hi]

Yup.....the time of enlil has come.

[@JesusChrist-rn6hl]

👽

[@Faji9r]

There were Russians on board.

[@JesusChrist-rn6hl]

👽

[@Hercules60]

DEI Bidens legacy

[@barrybb5409]

I dont think it was an accident. The plane had russians on it. The usa government under the israeli government has pished sntinrussian sentiment the past 12 years at least. Dei pilot in the helicopter. Helicopter turned into the airplane as it was landing.