A military helicopter and commercial flight collided with each other near the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts by the Potomac River in Washington D.C. on Wednesday night.
American Eagle flight 5342 was en route from Wichita, Kansas (ICT), to Washington, D.C. (DCA). According to a statement from American Airlines, there were 60 passengers and four crew members on board the plane. The flight was operated by PSA Airlines with a CRJ-700.
A Kennedy Center online camera captured a video of the collision:
Webcam at the Kennedy Center caught an explosion mid-air across the Potomac. https://t.co/v75sxitpH6 pic.twitter.com/HInYdhBYs5
— Alejandro Alvarez (@aletweetsnews) January 30, 2025
According to ARL Now, “fire boats and at least three helicopters are being used to search for victims in the river.” Mass casualties were expected as a result of the crash.
Several American figure skaters, coaches, and family members were onboard the American Eagle flight at the time of the collision, according to U.S. Figure Skating.
The Army helicopter was from the 12th Aviation Battalion at Fort Belvoir and was on a training flight.
“We can confirm that the aircraft involved in tonight’s incident was an Army UH-60 helicopter from Bravo Company, 12th Aviation Battalion, out of Davison Army Airfield, Fort Belvoir during a training flight. We are working with local officials and will provide additional information once it becomes available,” a media spokesperson said in a statement.
It turns out that some US figure skaters were on board the plane when it crashed.
