Army Black Hawk Helicopter Collides with American Airlines Jet Near Reagan National Airport

     A tragic mid-air collision occurred on Wednesday evening, January 29, 2025, when a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter collided with an American Airlines regional jet near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The incident, which took place around 9:00 p.m. EST, has prompted a massive search and rescue operation in the Potomac River1.

     The military aircraft involved in the collision was identified as a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. This versatile, medium-lift utility helicopter is a staple of the U.S. Army's fleet, capable of carrying up to 15 people, including two pilots, two crew chiefs, and two rescue specialists. The Black Hawk was operating out of Davison Army Airfield at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. It belonged to Bravo Company, 12th Aviation Battalion, and was conducting a training flight at the time of the incident. Three Army soldiers were aboard the helicopter when the collision occurred.

     According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the collision happened as the American Airlines Flight 5342, a Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet, was approaching Runway 33 at Reagan National Airport. The jet, carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, had departed from Wichita, Kansas. Air traffic control audio reveals that moments before the crash, controllers asked the helicopter, identified as "PAT25," if they had visual contact with the approaching commercial jet. The response from the helicopter crew, if any, was not immediately clear from the available information.

     The U.S. Army and the Pentagon have launched an immediate investigation into the incident. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described the event as "absolutely tragic" and stated that search and rescue efforts were ongoing. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the FAA are also conducting investigations into the crash. These agencies will work to piece together the aircrafts' final moments, including their communication with air traffic controllers and any loss of altitude by either aircraft.

     The collision has resulted in a complete suspension of all flights at Reagan National Airport, with 19 aircraft diverted to nearby Dulles International Airport. The airport is expected to remain closed until at least 11 a.m. on Thursday, January 30. As of early Thursday morning, there was no official confirmation of casualties. However, a massive search and rescue operation involving approximately 300 emergency responders is underway in the Potomac River. This tragic incident marks the first major commercial airline crash in the United States since 2009, sending shockwaves through the aviation community and beyond. As investigations continue, questions remain about how this collision occurred in one of the most tightly controlled airspaces in the world