A plane crash near Washington, D.C., has become the deadliest U.S. commercial aviation disaster since 2009. On January 29, 2025, American Airlines Flight 5342, operated by PSA Airlines, collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport. The plane, flying from Wichita, Kansas, was about to land when it crashed over the Potomac River at 8:53 p.m.
The Black Hawk was on a training mission, and 19 flights were diverted due to the incident. Both aircraft ended up in the water, with 64 people aboard the plane and three in the helicopter. The search for survivors is complicated by freezing temperatures and hazardous conditions. Emergency crews are working under challenging circumstances, with river temperatures near freezing, making rescue efforts urgent.
Families are anxiously awaiting news. The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation, and the airport remains closed for now.
