Aircraft plunges into river following midair crash with helicopter in Washington DC: LIVE UPDATES

Ronald Reagan National Airport has suspended operations following an “aircraft emergency”

An American Airlines regional jet has collided midair with a helicopter over the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said.

A PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jetliner, Flight 5342 from Wichita, Kansas, collided with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter while approaching Runway 33 at the airport. According to the FAA, The incident occurred during the jet’s final approach.

Local authorities have reported that at least one aircraft had gone into the Potomac River, prompting a significant emergency response, as seen in images circulating on social media.

The FAA announced that Reagan Washington National Airport was temporarily shut down following the incident. 

American Airlines acknowledged the situation in a post on X, stating that updates would be provided as more details emerged.

There is no immediate information on casualties. According to the airline’s website, its CRJ-700 planes are configured to carry 65 passengers.

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced on X that a multi-agency search and rescue operation is currently in progress in the Potomac River following an aircraft crash.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will take charge of the investigation to determine the cause of the crash.