New Videos of Helicopter Collision With Airplane Near Reagan Airport
January 30, 2025
Two new videos have been posted showing the collision of an Army Black Hawk helicopter and a PSA/American Airlines passenger plane on approach to Reagan National Airport. The collision caused a fireball and brought the two aircraft down in the Potomac River on the Maryland side, just south of Washington, D.C.
Screen image from an unsourced viral video shows the collision of an Army helicopter and a PSA/American Airlines plane near Reagan National Airport, January 29, 2025.
The flight put of Wichita, Kansas had sixty passengers and four crew members while the Army helicopter out of Fort Belvoir, Virginia (fifteen miles south of Reagan) had three soldiers aboard. The Army says the crew was on a training mission when the collision occurred. There are no reports of survivors. While no official word has been given, Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) at a press briefing indicated the loss of life was total.
The first video to surface is looking south toward the airport from the Kennedy Center in Northwest Washington. The video was posted by independent journalist Alejandro Alvarez:
An eyewitness account received by independent reporter Dave Statter, “Basically I was west of the airport on my roof and had a clear view of the regional jet circling onto the final for runway 33. From my perspective it looked like the helicopter crossed directly in front of the jet and there was a very brief fireball and I could hear the aircraft hit the water.”
NEW: Within 10-minutes of the crash STATter911 received a DM from a follower on X who witnessed the mid-air collision. This was before the video came out. It’s from someone I have corresponded with previously who asked to remain anonymous. This is their description of the…
Early morning press briefing with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and Kansas Senators Roger Marshall (R) and Jerry Moran (R):
Sen. Roger Marshall: “When many, many, many people die, it’s an unbearable sorrow. … It is such a tragedy that we lost them.”
Search and rescue officials have not confirmed deaths at this news conference on the plane-helicopter crash, although there are reportedly fatalities. pic.twitter.com/3AU07kt96f
Breaking: Trump Posts Truth on Reagan Airport Mid-Air Collision: “…It is a CLEAR NIGHT, the lights on the plane were blazing, why didn’t the helicopter go up or down, or turn…”
January 30, 2025
President Trump posted to Truth Social just after midnight Tuesday on the deadly collision near Reagan National Airport between a Army helicopter and a PSA/American Airlines passenger plane. The flight out of Wichita, Kansas was on final approach to Reagan when it appears to have been hit by the helicopter from the right side at about three hundred feet. The helicopter was on a training flight out of nearby Fort Belvoir, Virginia, according to the Army. The plane reportedly had sixty passengers and four crew, while the Army helicopter reportedly had three soldiers aboard. Rescue operations are ongoing at the crash site for both aircraft, located closer to the Maryland side of the Potomac River just south of Washington, D.C.
Emergency response units assess airplane wreckage in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington Airport on January 30, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images/AFPSearch and rescue operation is underway in Potomac River (Screenshot: Fox 29)
“The airplane was on a perfect and routine line of approach to the airport. The helicopter was going straight at the airplane for an extended period of time. It is a CLEAR NIGHT, the lights on the plane were blazing, why didn’t the helicopter go up or down, or turn. Why didn’t the control tower tell the helicopter what to do instead of asking if they saw the plane. This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented. NOT GOOD!!!”
“What a terrible night this has been. God bless you all!”
Earlier, the White House issued an official statement by Trump: “I have been fully briefed on the terrible accident which just took place at Reagan National Airport. May God bless their souls. Thank you for the incredible work being done by our first responders. I am monitoring the situation and will provide more details as they arise.”
Vice President J.D. Vance posted soon after the collision, “Please say a prayer for everyone involved in the mid-air collision near Reagan airport this evening. We’re monitoring the situation, but for now let’s hope for the best.”
Please say a prayer for everyone involved in the mid-air collision near Reagan airport this evening. We’re monitoring the situation, but for now let’s hope for the best.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced the Pentagon is opening an investigation and posted a statement by the Military District of Washington saying the helicopter was on a training mission out of Fort Belvoir, Virginia (located 15 miles south of Reagan National), “Latest below. Absolutely tragic. Search and rescue efforts still ongoing. Prayers for all impacted souls, and their families. Investigation launched immediately by Army & DoD.”
Latest below. Absolutely tragic. Search and rescue efforts still ongoing. Prayers for all impacted souls, and their families.
Duffy later posted, “I have directed @USDOT and @FAANews to provide full support to the @NTSB and all responding agencies and authorities….I have spoken with Washington D.C. Mayor Bowser, Virginia Governor Youngkin, Kansas Governor Kelly, and NTSB Chair Homendy to offer our agency’s complete assistance. Thank you to all first responders who are on the scene and conducting the search and rescue operations.”
I have spoken with Washington D.C. Mayor Bowser, Virginia Governor Youngkin, Kansas Governor Kelly, and NTSB Chair Homendy to offer our agency’s complete assistance. Thank you to all first responders who are on the scene and conducting the search and rescue operations.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Moem, “We are deploying every available US Coast Guard resource for search and rescue efforts in this horrific incident at DCA. We are actively monitoring the situation & stand ready to support local responders. Praying for the victims and first responders.”
We are deploying every available US Coast Guard resource for search and rescue efforts in this horrific incident at DCA. We are actively monitoring the situation & stand ready to support local responders.
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