American Airlines Plane and Helicopter Crash Into Potomac River

On Thursday, an American Airlines passenger plane and a helicopter collided midair near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, causing both aircraft to crash into the Potomac River.

According to reports, the plane had 64 people on board, including passengers and crew members, while the helicopter was carrying three individuals at the time of the accident.

Several fireboats were on the scene as the rescue operations were underway, according to the Washington Fire Department, Reuters said.

According to Fox News, American Airlines Flight 5342 collided with a Black Hawk helicopter near the airport.

Videos on social media showed the moment when the plane crashed into the chopper during landing at the Reagan Airport.

Meanwhile, all takeoffs and landings at the airport were halted as emergency personnel responded to the incident.

Details of the Midair Collision Near Reagan National

According to the Associated Press, American Airlines Flight 5342 was inbound to Reagan National at an altitude of about 400 feet and a speed of about 140 miles per hour when it suffered a rapid loss of altitude over the Potomac River, according to data from its radio transponder.

The Canadian-made Bombardier CRJ-701 twin-engine jet, manufactured in 2004, can be configured to carry up to 70 passengers.

A few minutes before landing, air traffic controllers asked the arriving commercial jet if it could land on the shorter Runway 33 at Reagan National and the pilots said they were able.

Controllers then cleared the plane to land on Runway 33. Flight tracking sites showed the plane adjust its approach to the new runway.

Less than 30 seconds before the crash, an air traffic controller asked the helicopter if it had the arriving plane in sight.

The controller made another radio call to the helicopter moments later, “PAT 25 pass behind the CRJ.”

Seconds after that, the two aircraft collided.