Washington Plane Crash: 18 bodies found so far

A mid-air collision over the Potomac River near Washington's Reagan National Airport has claimed at least 18 lives, as rescue teams continue to search for survivors, according to local media reports.

The crash involved American Airlines Flight 5342 and a Black Hawk military helicopter.

The FAA confirmed that a PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet, operating as Flight 5342 for American Airlines, was on approach to Runway 33 when it collided midair with a Sikorsky H-60 Black Hawk helicopter.

The military helicopter was carrying three soldiers when it collided with the regional passenger jet, which had 60 passengers and four crew members on board while approaching the airport for landing.

No survivors have been found so far.

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that the collision occurred around 9 p.m. local time on Wednesday.

The plane had been about to land at nearby Reagan National Airport after flying from Kansas.

A US Army official said the helicopter involved was a Black Hawk model carrying three soldiers -- their status currently unknown. They had been on a "training flight," a separate military spokesperson said in a statement.

Washington police said "there is no confirmed information on casualties at this time."

Police said fireboats had joined the operation on the river, where any work was complicated by the fact it was dark and close to freezing. Dozens of fire trucks headed toward the airport.

The Washington Post quoted unnamed sources saying police had started to pull multiple bodies from the water.

Witness Ari Schulman described "a stream of sparks" and what looked like a large firework when the collision erupted overhead as he drove home.

"Initially I saw the plane and it looked fine, normal. It was right about to head over land," he told CNN.

"Three seconds later, and at that point it was banked all the way to the right... I could see the underside of it, it was lit up a very bright yellow, and there was a stream of sparks underneath it," Schulman added. "It looked like a Roman candle."

The Federal Aviation Administration ordered the grounding of all planes at Reagan National, and Washington's police said on X that "multiple agencies" were responding to the crash site in the Potomac.

A massive search and rescue operation was in progress, with divers visible as they plunged into the snow-lined Potomac.

Authorities have urged the public to avoid the area to allow emergency personnel to carry out their duties effectively. Multiple agencies are working together in a coordinated effort to manage the crisis and provide assistance.

Rescue operations are ongoing, and further updates are awaited.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) leading the investigation into the cause of the accident. The Pentagon and the Army also investigating the crash.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed this to reporters. He said that the investigation was "launched immediately."

"Absolutely tragic. Search and rescue efforts still ongoing. Prayers for all impacted souls, and their families," Hegseth added.

President Donald Trump issued a statement expressing his concern over the tragic accident.

"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," the statement read.

But less than four hours after the disaster -- and while other officials stressed they were waiting for investigations to unfold -- he went on social media to critique the air traffic control.

"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," Trump wrote on his app Truth Social.

"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!!!"

Kristi Noem, the country's new secretary of homeland security, posted on X that she was "deploying every available US Coast Guard resource for search and rescue efforts in this horrific incident at DCA."

US Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas said on X the collision was "nothing short of a nightmare."

American Airlines' CEO issued a video statement in which he expressed "deep sorrow."