What we know about the Black Hawk that collided with plane near Reagan airport

Authorities are actively investigating the tragic mid-air collision between an American Airlines plane and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport.

Over 300 first responders are currently conducting rescue efforts in the river. The operation includes divers, boats, and helicopters working against challenging conditions. Authorities are prioritizing locating survivors and recovering debris to piece together the sequence of events leading to the crash.

The military aircraft involved was a U.S. Army Black Hawk UH-60 helicopter. Officials confirmed that the helicopter was on a training flight with three soldiers aboard, as reported by CNN. American Airlines Flight 5342, carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, was en route from Wichita, Kansas, as confirmed by the airline. The collision caused both aircraft to crash into the freezing Potomac River, triggering an extensive search-and-rescue effort.

Jennifer Griffin, Fox News' Chief Correspondent for National Security, posted on X:

"No senior officials onboard the Blackhawk helicopter that crashed into American Airlines flight near Reagan National Airport: U.S. Army official. 3 Soldiers were onboard the Blackhawk, according to Army."

In a statement to CNN, US Army officials said:

“We can confirm that the aircraft involved in tonight’s incident was an Army UH-60 helicopter out of Fort Belvoir, Virginia. We are working with local officials and will provide additional information once it becomes available,”

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More details about the Black Hawk and American Airlines plane

Thirty seconds before the collision, an air traffic controller attempted to communicate with the Army Black Hawk helicopter, known as PAT 25, instructing it to pass behind another aircraft, the CRJ. Just 25 seconds later, the controller issued a second radio call to PAT 25, but no response was recorded from the helicopter on any flight tracking systems, according to the Associated Press. Moments later, the two aircraft collided mid-air.

The American Airlines flight, which had been approaching Runway 33 at Reagan National Airport around 9 pm, had its radio transponder stop transmitting over the middle of the Potomac River, approximately 2,400 feet short of the runway, reported People Magazine. This marks the final communication before the crash, and authorities are investigating why the Black Hawk did not follow the instructions from air traffic control or respond to the calls made.

In his latest statement, Donald Trump also questioned the route of the Black Hawk helicopter:

"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!!!"

American Airlines has provided a dedicated helpline for those seeking information about passengers on Flight 5342. Families in the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands can call 800-679-8215, while international callers can find additional contact numbers at news.aa.com.