Black Hawk helicopter crashes into American Airlines plane killing all on board

On 29 January 2025, a passenger plane with 64 people on board was landing at the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport at the time of the crash with the military aircraft, which had three soldiers on board.

American Airlines flight 5342, which had 60 passengers and 4 crew on board, was flying into the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport from Wichita in Kansas when the collision took place.

The US Black Hawk helicopter had 3 soldiers on board was training close to the busy Airport at the time.

The collision occurred in some of the most tightly controlled and monitored airspace in the world, just over three miles south of the White House and the US Capitol.

Officials have not yet said what they believe caused the collision, with American Airlines chief executive Robert Isom saying they do not know why the military aircraft came into the path of the plane.

A few minutes before landing, air traffic controllers asked the American Airlines flight if it could land on the shorter Runway 33 at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and the pilots said they were able to. American Airlines was cleared to land on Runway 33.

As the plane was heading to Runway 33, the Black Hawk helicopter, which was alerted to the presence of the American Airlines plane by Air traffic controllers, did not change course, leading to a collision and explosion that was caught on camera.

Both the helicopter and aeroplane fell into the Potomac river.

All lives were lost.

US President Donald Trump thanked first responders for their "incredible work", and said he was "monitoring the situation and will provide more details as they arise", in a statement late on Wednesday.