Witness to Mid-Air Collision near Reagan National Airport Speaks Out

Chaos unfolded in the skies near Reagan National Airport as a commercial jet and a military helicopter collided mid-air, sending emergency crews rushing to the scene.

A dramatic mid-air collision shook the skies near Reagan Washington National Airport on the evening of January 29, 2025, when a PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet and a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter collided. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that the incident unfolded around 9 p.m. local time as the jet was making its approach to Runway 33, sending shockwaves through the aviation community.

A firsthand account of the shocking mid-air collision comes from witness Abadi Ismail, who was in the Buzzard Point area near James Creek Marina at the time of the incident. Describing the dramatic scene, he recalled, “I have a vantage point overlooking the Potomac River, the Anacostia River, Reagan Airport, and the military base. It’s like a cinematic view, so I could see everything unfold the moment the crash happened.” His chilling observation adds to the gravity of the tragic event.

Ismail recalled that he was watching television when an unfamiliar, deafening noise shattered the night. “It was a bang, bang—very loud. Something I’m not familiar with, something you don’t normally hear,” he described, his voice laced with disbelief.

Rushing to his window, he spotted thick smoke rising from the south side of Reagan Airport. At first, the magnitude of the incident was difficult to grasp. But within minutes, flashing lights and sirens flooded the area as emergency responders—including the DC Park Police, Coast Guard, DC Police, Arlington Police, and fire crews—raced to the scene, painting a chaotic yet urgent picture of the unfolding disaster.

“Every resource in DC was rushing toward the crash scene. That’s when I started recording—somewhere around 8:50 p.m.,” Ismail recalled, describing the overwhelming response to the catastrophe.

As emergency crews worked tirelessly through the night, new challenges became evident. The frigid 39-degree temperatures had left the Potomac River frozen, adding another layer of difficulty to the already complex rescue efforts. “That’s another hassle—the U.S. Coast Guard has to navigate through all this ice just to reach the crash site,” he explained, emphasizing the daunting obstacles first responders faced in their urgent mission.

Ismail noted that, based on both his own observations and information from contacts at DC Park, the nature of the operation had taken a grim turn—from a desperate search-and-rescue effort to a solemn recovery mission.

“The crash scene is about two miles from where I am. From what I can see, and from what my friends at DC Park have assessed, this is no longer a search-and-rescue mission. Unfortunately, it’s now a recovery effort,” he said, his tone heavy with the weight of the tragedy.

During a press conference, DC Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly provided a timeline of the swift emergency response. He confirmed that an alert was sounded at 8:48 p.m., triggering a large-scale mobilization of rescue teams.

“At 8:58, the first units arrived on the scene, discovered an aircraft in the water, and immediately began rescue operations,” Donnelly stated, emphasizing the urgency and coordination of the response efforts.

Chief Donnelly further revealed that approximately 300 responders were engaged in the operation under the National Capital Region Mutual Aid Agreement, which coordinates emergency efforts across Washington, Baltimore, and Virginia.

“It’s a highly complex operation. The conditions out there are extremely rough for responders—it’s cold, with strong winds, and navigating the river is incredibly difficult. But they are out there, working tirelessly, and we are doing everything possible to keep them safe,” he stated.

By 2:50 a.m. on January 30, officials confirmed the recovery of at least 19 bodies from the icy Potomac River, which contained three separate debris fields. Heartbreakingly, no survivors had been found.

Meanwhile, shocking video footage obtained by the Daily Mail captured the horrifying moment the American Airlines-operated Flight 5342 collided with the helicopter mid-air. The airline later confirmed that the aircraft had 60 passengers and four crew members onboard at the time of the tragic crash.

@dailymail

An American Airlines regional passenger jet has crashed into a military helicopter while attempting to land at Reagan National Airport in Washington. Emergency services in the city are searching the Potomac River near the airport following the incident just before 9pm on Wednesday night. The airline has confirmed that there was 60 passengers and four crews members onboard Flight 5342 from Wichita, Kansas, to the Capital when the collision happened. NBC Washington are reporting that at least four people have been pulled from the water by rescue crews as dive teams survey the crash site. This is a developing story. Follow DailyMail for live updates. #washingtondc #plane #planecrash #americanairlines #helicopter #news #breakingnews

♬ Scary Tense – Steve Ralph

n the aftermath of the tragic mid-air collision near Reagan Washington National Airport, former President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to express his concerns.e suggested that the incident, which occurred under clear night skies, could have been prevented.rump also criticized the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) hiring policies, implying—without providing evidence—that these practices might have contributed to the crash.citeturn0search1turn0search11

Former President Donald Trump weighed in on the tragedy via Truth Social, raising concerns about 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? 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!!!” he wrote.

In a follow-up post, he expressed his condolences, stating, “What a terrible night this has been. God bless you all!”

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released an official statement confirming the mid-air collision and providing details about the aircraft involved.

“A PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet collided in 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. It departed from Wichita, Kansas,” the agency stated.

The FAA’s confirmation underscores the severity of the incident, as investigators work to determine the factors that led to the tragic crash.

The investigation into the cause of the devastating collision remains ongoing, with authorities focusing on key aspects to determine what led to the crash. They will thoroughly analyze air traffic control communications, flight data, and weather conditions surrounding the incident.

Both the FAA and NTSB have urged anyone with additional footage or information to step forward to aid in the investigation. As officials continue to assess the circumstances and implications of the crash, further updates are expected in the coming days.