
Following the release of video footage showing the tragic Washington, D.C. plane crash, social media users have been left bewildered, questioning how such a collision could occur. Many have shared their disbelief, with some speculating that something doesn’t add up. The footage, which was captured near Reagan Airport on January 29, 2025, shows the moment a helicopter collided with an American Airlines jet. The collision, which resulted in a massive explosion, was shared widely after the FAA issued an official statement.
In the viral video shared by the Daily Mail on TikTok, viewers see the airplane, approaching the airport, when the helicopter—traveling in the opposite direction—crashes into it. The impact is captured as a sudden flash of light followed by plumes of smoke, as both aircraft plummet into the Potomac River.

The Daily Mail’s TikTok caption reads, “The airline has confirmed that there were 60 passengers and four crew members onboard Flight 5342 from Wichita, Kansas, to the Capital when the collision occurred [sic].”

Additionally, first responders are actively searching the Potomac River near the airport. After watching the footage shared by the Daily Mail, many netizens flooded the comment sections, expressing their thoughts on the tragic incident.
“As a pilot, I’m shocked this happened. You have controllers meant to prevent this, and there are actually fewer collisions at night due to the anti-collision lights on each aircraft. :/,” commented one TikToker.

Many social media users echoed similar confusion about how the collision occurred. One person wrote, “This is so strange…” while another commented, “No, no, this makes no sense on so many levels… A collision on this level at such a low altitude??? You’re telling me air traffic control wasn’t monitoring their path? Did the pilots not have any gear???”
Another observer expressed, “Prayers. How is this even possible 😢.” Reacting to a video shared on TikTok by NBC Washington, which posted the same footage with a reporter narrating the collision, a netizen commented, “Blackhawk military helicopters can’t see other aircraft at night?? That plane has all its landing lights on. This is unbelievable!”

“Are military helicopters even supposed to be in that airspace? Something is not right about this. What are they trying to distract us from now?” pondered a TikToker. Someone else wrote, “I don’t understand, this is heartbreaking [sic].”
Such comments continued, with another online observer noting, “All that airspace and still they collide.” Others suspect the incident may have been intentional. “That’s weird because it looks like the helicopter rammed the jet!” one netizen commented. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) provided some context, explaining that “a PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet collided midair with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter while on approach to Runway 33 at Reagan Washington National Airport around 9 p.m. local time. PSA was operating as Flight 5342 for American Airlines.”
The FAA also clarified that both their agency and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the incident and will continue to provide the public with updates as more information becomes available.
Kansas Senator Roger Marshall addressed the devastating plane crash during a briefing, offering his condolences to the victims and their families. Reflecting on the magnitude of the tragedy, Marshall remarked, “You know, when one person dies, it’s a tragedy, but when many, many, many people die, it’s an unbearable sorrow, it’s a heartbreak beyond measure.”

Standing alongside fellow Senator Jerry Moran, Marshall acknowledged the immense loss suffered by the victims’ communities, especially those in Kansas. “Senator Moran and I are here just to say we care, we wish there was more we could do, but unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be much at this time,” he said, his voice heavy with sorrow.

The senator emphasized the profound grief felt by those who lost loved ones, comparing the sorrow to past tragedies the state has endured.
“We’ve been through things like this before, tornadoes, floods, and other disasters, but it’s really hard when you lose, you know, probably over 60 Kansans all at once,” Marshall said, his voice thick with emotion.

He also took a moment to recognize the lives of the pilots, flight attendants, and military personnel involved in the collision, stressing the importance of their service. “All those lives are so valuable, and it is such a tragedy that we lost them,” he remarked with a heavy heart.
As the investigation into the mid-air collision continues, news outlets remain at the forefront, delivering real-time updates as new details emerge. CBS News recently reported distressing developments in the search efforts, including the discovery of human remains washing up along the Virginia side of the Potomac River.
According to CBS News senior transportation and national correspondent Kris Van Cleave, the impact of the crash caused the plane to break into multiple pieces, now submerged in five to eight feet of water. In a critical breakthrough, a dive team recovered one of the aircraft’s two black boxes.
However, officials have not yet confirmed whether it is the cockpit voice recorder or the flight data recorder, both of which could provide crucial insights into what led to the tragic collision.

Divers have managed to access portions of the aircraft’s cabin, retrieving luggage and other debris. Meanwhile, the helicopter, though found upside down in the water, appears to be largely intact.
As emergency efforts persist, authorities have confirmed the scale of the ongoing search-and-rescue mission. During a press conference at Reagan National Airport, D.C. Fire and EMS Chief John A. Donnelly Sr. revealed that approximately 300 responders are actively working to locate survivors and recover remains from the Potomac River.

“At 8:58 p.m., the first units arrived on the scene and found an aircraft in the water and began rescue operations. This incident has grown,” stated Donnelly, explaining that the initial alert was triggered at 8:48 p.m.
With conditions described as dark, cold, and windy, responders face significant challenges as they navigate the murky waters in their urgent efforts.

According to CNN, in light of the tragic event, Reagan National Airport has been temporarily shut down. Jack Potter, the president and CEO of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, announced that the airport will remain closed until at least 11 a.m. ET on Thursday (today). However, he assured that operations at Washington Dulles International Airport remain unaffected.

Aside from what government officials, organizations, and media outlets have reported concerning the crash, a witness gave his account of what he saw and heard at the time of the collision.
The witness, Abadi Ismail, who was in the Buzzard Point area near James Creek Marina, disclosed, “I have an advantageous view of the Potomac River, the Anacostia River, Reagan Airport, and the military base. I have a cinematic view, so I could see everything that was happening from the moment the crash occurred.”

Ismail recounted that he was watching television when he heard a loud and unusual sound. “It was a bang, bang, very loud bang, bang. Something I’m not familiar with, something you don’t normally hear,” he stated.
Upon looking out his window, Ismail saw smoke rising from the south side of the airport. At first, he struggled to comprehend what had happened. However, within minutes, emergency responders, including the D.C. Park Police, Coast Guard, D.C. Police, Arlington Police, and fire trucks, arrived at the scene.

“Every resource within D.C. were heading toward the crash scene. That’s when I took the video. Somewhere around 8:50 p.m. [sic],” he recalled.
As emergency responders worked through the night, more details emerged about the challenges faced at the crash scene. Ismail noted that the Potomac River was frozen due to the 39-degree temperatures, complicating rescue efforts. “That’s another hassle that the U.S. Coast Guard has to maneuver through all this ice in order to get to the crash scene,” he explained.

He also pointed out that based on what he had observed and heard from contacts at D.C. Park, the situation had shifted from a search-and-rescue mission to a recovery effort.
“The crash scene is about two miles from where I’m at. Based on what I see, I have friends that work at the D.C. Park. Based on their analysis on the site, this is not a search and rescue mission at this point. Unfortunately, it’s a recovery mission [sic],” he said.
By 2:50 a.m. on January 30, an official confirmed that at least 19 bodies had been recovered from the river, which contained three separate debris fields. No survivors had been found.
U.S. President Donald Trump commented on the incident via Truth Social, expressing concern over how the crash unfolded.

“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, why didn’t the helicopter go up or down, or turn [sic],” penned Trump.
He continued, “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 [sic]!!!” In a follow-up post, he added, “What a terrible night this has been. God bless you all!”

The investigation into the cause of the collision is ongoing. Authorities will be analyzing air traffic control communications, flight data, and weather conditions to determine what led to the crash.
The FAA and NTSB have encouraged anyone with additional footage or information to come forward. Further updates are expected as officials continue to assess the incident and its impact.