Emergency equipment stages at Gravelly Point, north of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, along the Potomac River, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Emergency equipment stages at Gravelly Point, north of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, along the Potomac River, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
A view of emergency response looking from Arlington, Va., south of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, across the Potomac River toward the District of Columbia, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
A view of emergency response looking from Arlington, Va., south of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, across the Potomac River toward the District of Columbia, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
A PSA Airlines plane collided midair with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter late Wednesday as the military chopper was preparing to land at Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia.
The Federal Aviation Administration said the collision unfolded at about 9 p.m. as the helicopter was on approach to runway 33.
“PSA was operating as Flight 5342 for American Airlines. It departed from Wichita, Kansas,” reads a statement issued by the FAA.
Earlier footage from an observation camera at the Kennedy Center captured the moment in which two sets of lights consistent with an aircraft appeared to explode.
Webcam at the Kennedy Center caught an explosion mid-air across the Potomac. https://t.co/v75sxitpH6 pic.twitter.com/HInYdhBYs5
— Alejandro Alvarez (@aletweetsnews) January 30, 2025
Fireboats are currently on scene and a helicopter with the Metropolitan Police Department is being used to assist in the multi-agency response, according to officials.
It is not known at this time if anyone was injured in the crash.
DC police said multiple calls regarding the collision were received starting at 8:53 p.m.
The FAA said the airport will be closed and remain under a ground stop until 5 a.m. Thursday. Airport terminals remain open at present.
The FAA and NTSB will investigate the midair collision, with NTSB taking the lead.
This story is developing. Stay with WTOP for the latest.
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