A PSA Airlines CRJ-700 regional jet operating for American Eagle crashed into the Potomac River after colliding with a U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter on the night of Jan. 29.
The aircraft, flight JIA5342 from Wichita, Kansas, was preparing to land at Washington-Ronald Reagan Airport. There were 64 people on board the jet while three military personnel were flying in the Sikorsky helicopter.
Rescue crews spent the early morning searching for survivors.
According to ADS-B data compiled by FlightRadar24, the plane carrying 60 passengers and four crew members was approaching runway 33 when the mid-air collision occurred at an altitude of 300 feet.
A mid air collision between a helicopter and an American Airlines CRJ-700 has likely occurred at DCA airport.
This is not official yet, however, with the evidence gathered as of now, it seems like this is what has occured. #planecrash #dca #washingtondc #BreakingNews pic.twitter.com/7ZcfR5HNdP
— Ethan Dahlke (@ethandahlkewx) January 30, 2025
Aircraft has been flying with PSA since 2005
The CRJ-700 regional jet was manufactured by Bombardier in 2004 and delivered to the now defunct MidAtlantic Airways in the US.
It initially flew with the registration N165MD for US Airways. Since 2005, it has been operated by PSA Airlines, receiving the registration N709PS.
Since 2013, it has been flying with a configuration of six seats in business class and 56 in economy.
