The internet is buzzing with shock and confusion after video footage of a devastating plane crash near Washington, D.C., was released.
The clips show the horrifying moment an American Airlines jet collided with a military helicopter near Reagan Airport on the night of January 29, 2025. The crash sent both aircraft plummeting into the icy waters of the Potomac River, leaving netizens stunned and questioning how such a tragedy could happen.
The video, shared by the Daily Mail on TikTok, captures the collision in chilling detail. The plane, a PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet operating as American Airlines Flight 5342, was approaching the airport when it was struck by a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter.
The impact caused a massive explosion, lighting up the night sky before both aircraft disappeared into the river. The Daily Mail’s 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 happened [sic].”
As the video spread across social media, people flooded the comments section with their reactions. Many were baffled by how such a collision could occur, especially at night when aircraft are equipped with anti-collision lights.
One TikTok user, who identified as a pilot, wrote: “As a pilot, I’m shocked this happened. You have controllers that are meant to avoid this, & there’s less [sic] collisions actually at night cause of the anti-collision lights on each aircraft. :/”
Others echoed the confusion. “This is so strange…” one person commented, while another added, “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 was not monitoring their path? Did the pilots have nah [sic] gear????” Another user simply wrote, “Prayers. How is this even possible 😢.”
Image from the plane crash tonight in Washington DC. Tragic. My heart breaks for everyone affected. pic.twitter.com/p14uxAa1Ox
— Harry Sisson (@harryjsisson) January 30, 2025
Some viewers speculated that something more sinister might be at play. “Blackhawk military helicopters can’t see other aircraft at night?? That plane has all its landing lights on. This is unbelievable!” one person remarked.
Another questioned, “Are military helicopters even supposed to be in that air. Space? [sic] Something is not right about this. What are they trying to distract us from now?” A more ominous comment read, “That’s weird because it looks like the helicopter rammed the jet!”
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released a statement to provide context, explaining: “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 confirmed that they, along with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), are investigating the incident and will keep the public updated as more information becomes available.
Kansas Senator Roger Marshall addressed the tragedy during a briefing, expressing his condolences to the victims and their families. “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 major,” Marshall said.
He acknowledged the immense loss suffered by the victims’ communities, particularly those in Kansas, and recognized the lives of the pilots, flight attendants, and military personnel involved. “All those lives are so valuable, and it is such a tragedy that we lost them,” he remarked.
As the investigation continues, news outlets are providing real-time updates. CBS News reported that human remains have been found washing up along the Virginia side of the Potomac River.
The impact of the crash caused the plane to break into multiple pieces, now submerged in five to eight feet of water. A dive team has recovered one of the aircraft’s two black boxes, though it’s unclear whether it’s the cockpit voice recorder or the flight data recorder. Both could provide crucial insights into what led to the collision.
Divers have also retrieved luggage and debris from the aircraft’s cabin, while the helicopter, found upside down in the water, appears to be largely intact. The search-and-rescue mission involves approximately 300 responders, who are working under challenging conditions. D.C.
Fire and EMS Chief John A. Donnelly Sr. explained during a press conference that the initial alert was triggered at 8:48 p.m., and the first units arrived on the scene at 8:58 p.m. “This incident has grown,” Donnelly said, describing the conditions as dark, cold, and windy.
Reagan National Airport has been temporarily shut down, with operations expected to resume by 11 a.m. ET on Thursday. Washington Dulles International Airport remains unaffected.
Meanwhile, a witness to the crash, Abadi Ismail, shared his account of what he saw and heard. Ismail, who lives in the Buzzard Point area near James Creek Marina, said he has a clear 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 is happening from the moment the crash happened [sic],” he said.
Ismail recounted hearing a loud and unusual sound while watching television. “It was a bang, bang, very loud bang, bang. Something I’m not familiar with, something you don’t normally hear,” he stated.
When he looked out his window, he saw smoke rising from the south side of the airport. 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.
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 the situation had shifted from a search-and-rescue mission to a recovery effort. “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, officials confirmed that at least 19 bodies had been recovered from the river, with no survivors 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],” Trump wrote.
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!”
As the investigation continues, authorities are analyzing air traffic control communications, flight data, and weather conditions to determine the cause of the crash.
The FAA and NTSB have urged anyone with additional footage or information to come forward. For now, the nation mourns the lives lost in this heartbreaking tragedy, and the search for answers continues.
