Tragic Plane Crash in Washington, DC | American Airlines Flight 5342
WASHINGTON, DC - A midair crash occurred near Reagan Washington National Airport, the night of January 29, 2025, at about 8:50 p.m. First responders from the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, Arlington County, Fairfax County, the City of Alexandria, Washington, DC and more rushed to the scene. Tragically, it has now been reported that there were no survivors.
It is now known that the crash occurred when American Airlines Flight 5342 (being operated by PSA Airlines), en route to Washington, DC's National Airport, collided with a US Army Blackhawk helicopter (H-60), while on approach to the airport. One source reported that the Army helicopter was on a "training flight," and had three soldiers onboard. The helicopter was reported to have been part of the 12th Aviation Battalion out of Ft. Belvoir, just south of Alexandria, Va. The civilian jet was reported to be carrying 60 passengers, and 4 crew. Video cameras from varying locations captured the moment of impact, confirming that there was an explosion, and both aircraft plummeted into the Potomac River.
The crash resulted in the airport being shut down, and all incoming flights were diverted.
In the aftermath of the crash, investigators from the FAA, NTSB, and other federal agencies have converged on the scene to begin understanding how the crash happened in the nation's capital. It is not known if the "black box," or event-data recorder, has been recovered at this time.
Numerous news outlets have remarked that the crash is the "worst American aviation crash since 2009," when another plane crashed in Buffalo, New York.
The attorneys and staff of Blaszkow Legal extend their sincerest condolences to the families of all who lost their lives yesterday.
Airplane Disasters in the United States
The United States has a law that is specifically designed to assist the families of those lost in airplane disasters, called the Federal Family Assistance Legislation of 1996 (49 USC 1136, and 41113). All domestic and international air carriers who are in, or coming into, the US, are required to participate in the implementation of this law.
This law requires the National Transportation Safety Board to designate a nonprofit entity to coordinate services, such as mental health services and victim identification, for any survivors of the crash and accident victims' families. The airline also has responsibilities under the Act, such as establishing a toll-free telephone line for victims' families, informing families of the death of family members, helping families to travel to the accident location, giving them room and board, and listing all passengers on the flight and telling families before publicizing the list.
If you have lost a loved one in this disaster, please contact the NTSB's Family Assistance Center:
Toll Free - (800) 683-9369
Direct - (202) 314-6185
Fax - (202) 459-9402
https://www.ntsb.gov/tda/er/Pages/tda-fa-aviation.aspx
Air Travel In and Around Washington, DC
DC's air space is a very complicated network of zones and areas, most of which planes are not permitted to fly in. This is why incoming and outgoing airplanes have to arrange their flight plans to come and go to Reagan Airport over the Potomac River. The airport sees over 800 takeoffs and landings, every day.
Air Traffic Control at the airport is based in the control tower, a unique-looking structure at the center of the Arlington County airport facility.
Note: When creating these blog posts, our team of writers utilizes external sources, including local and state news sources, social media platforms, police accident incident reports, state police accident reports, and at times, eyewitness accounts. Please contact us immediately if you discover any incorrect information so that we can update the post with the most current, accurate information available.
Disclaimer: This post is not a business solicitation, and none of the information provided in this blog post should be interpreted as medical or legal advice. If you have been injured in an accident, seek immediate medical attention.