On January 29, 2025, a tragic mid-air collision occurred over the Potomac River near Washington, D.C., involving a PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet operating as American Airlines Flight 5342 and a U.S. Army Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. The accident resulted in the loss of all 67 individuals on board both aircraft.
Flight Details and Collision
Flight 5342 departed from Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport in Kansas, carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, and was on final approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Simultaneously, the Black Hawk helicopter, operated by the 12th Aviation Battalion, was conducting a routine night training mission originating from Davison Army Airfield in Virginia. The collision occurred at approximately 8:48 p.m. Eastern Time, about half a mile short of runway 33 at an altitude of 300 feet.
Aftermath and Response
In the wake of the accident, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) imposed restrictions on helicopter flights near Reagan National Airport. Specifically, routes designated as Route 4 and Route 1 were partially closed, remaining accessible only to police, medical, air defense, and presidential transport flights. Additionally, PSA Airlines retired the flight number 5342, reassigning the Wichita to Washington National route as Flight 5677.
Investigation and Preliminary Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), along with the FAA, the Department of Defense, and the U.S. Army, initiated investigations into the collision. Both the flight data recorder from the CRJ700 and the combined flight data and voice recorder from the Black Hawk were recovered and analyzed. Preliminary findings indicated that the helicopter was at a radio altitude of 278 feet at the time of impact, while Reagan National's guidelines require helicopters on that route to operate at or below 200 feet above mean sea level. The NTSB also noted that a single air traffic controller was managing both aircraft at the time, an arrangement considered atypical for that time of day.
NTSB Recommendations
On March 11, 2025, the NTSB released a preliminary report accompanied by urgent safety recommendations to the FAA. The board emphasized the dangerously narrow vertical separation between the runway approach path and the helicopter route, highlighting that the proximity of Route 4 to runway 33's approach path posed "an intolerable risk to aviation safety." Consequently, the NTSB recommended that the FAA close Route 4 near the airport during runway 33 landings or opposite-direction takeoffs and designate an alternate helicopter route during those times.
Community Impact
The crash had a profound impact on various communities. Notably, among the victims were former world champion figure skaters Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, who were returning from a national development camp. Their loss deeply affected the figure skating community and the city of Wichita, which had recently celebrated the establishment of direct passenger air service to the East Coast.
Ongoing Investigation
As investigations continue, authorities are meticulously examining all aspects of the crash to prevent future tragedies. The aviation community and the public await further findings to enhance safety protocols and ensure such a devastating event does not recur.
For a detailed briefing on the ongoing investigation, you can watch the NTSB's latest update below:
NTSB Update
