Donald Trump believes the crash between an American Airlines regional passenger jet and a military helicopter ‘should have been prevented.’
The initial statement from the president expressed his hope for the victims’ souls to be blessed as emergency services searched the Potomac River near the airport following an incident just before 9pm on Wednesday night.
In a post to the Trump-owned Truth Social later in the evening, Trump raised several questions about the crash.
He questioned the circumstances surrounding the event, highlighting that the airplane was on a normal approach path to the airport while the helicopter appeared to be heading directly towards it for an extended period on a clear night with the airplane’s lights clearly visible. He questioned why the helicopter did not maneuver either up or down or change direction.
Trump further pressed on the issue by wondering why the control tower did not provide guidance to the helicopter instead of inquiring if they had seen the plane, emphasizing that the situation seemed avoidable and expressing his discontent with the handling of the incident.
He wrote a short follow-up post on Truth Social saying: ‘What a terrible night this has been. God bless you all!’
The crash happened as the passenger plane was attempting to land at Reagan National Airport in Washington.
The president spoke about the crash earlier in a statement: ‘I have been fully briefed on the terrible accident which just took place at Reagan National Airport,’ he said.
Donald Trump believes the crash between an American Airlines regional passenger jet and a military helicopter ‘should have been prevented’
Emergency services in the city are searching the Potomac River near the airport following the incident just before 9pm on Wednesday night
‘May God Bless their souls. Thank you for the incredible work being done by our first responders. I am monitoring the situation and will provide more details as they arise.’
Vice President JD Vance similarly offered prayer in a statement of his own to social media.
‘Please say a prayer for everyone involved in the mid-air collision near Reagan airport this evening. We’re monitoring the situation, but for now let’s hope for the best.’
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on Wednesday night that he’s ‘on site at the FAA HQ and closely monitoring the situation.’
The airline has confirmed that there was 60 passengers and four crews members onboard Flight 5342 from Wichita, Kansas, to the Capital when the collision happened.
NBC Washington are reporting that at least four people have been pulled to safety by rescue crews from the water.
The Federal Aviation Authority said that the jet, a Bombardier CRJ700, collided with a Sikorksy H-60 Black Hawk helicopter while on approach to Runway 33.
Defense officials have confirmed that the Black Hawk was an Army chopper that was carrying three soldiers at the time.
Vice President JD Vance similarly offered prayer in a statement of his own to social media
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on Wednesday night that he’s ‘on site at the FAA HQ and closely monitoring the situation’
Video from an observation camera at the nearby Kennedy Center shows two sets of lights consistent with aircraft appearing to conjoin in a fireball
Fireboats are currently on the scene scouring the river, with details of the crash including the cause and how many people were onboard still unknown
Defense officials have confirmed that the Black Hawk was an Army chopper that was carrying three soldiers at the time
In audio from the air traffic control tower around the time of the crash, a controller is heard asking the helicopter, ‘PAT25 do you have the CRJ in sight,’ in reference to the passenger aircraft.
‘Tower, did you see that?’ another pilot is heard calling seconds after the apparent collision. The tower immediately began diverting other aircraft from Reagan.
In a statement, DC Police said: ‘At 8:53pm, multiple calls were received for an aircraft crash above the Potomac River.
‘DC Fire and EMS, the Metropolitan Police Department and multiple partner agencies are currently coordinating a search and rescue operation in the Potomac River. There is no confirmed information on casualties at this time.
The airport said in a post to X: ‘All takeoffs and landings have been halted at DCA. Emergency personnel are responding to an aircraft incident on the airfield. The terminal remains open. Will update.’
Images taken at the scene show scores of emergency service teams along the riverside.
Footage has also emerged online of helicopters with search lights passing over the Potomac River.
Video from an observation camera at the nearby Kennedy Center shows two sets of lights consistent with aircraft appearing to conjoin in a fireball.
Emergency equipment stages at Gravelly Point, north of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, along the Potomac River, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025
Lights from emergency vehicles are seen at Reagan National Airport in Washington, DC, after an air crash near the Potomac Rive
Emergency services in Washington DC said that a small aircraft had crashed in the Potomac River near the Reagan National Airport, seen here
Flightradar tracking data shows the final approach of the flight as it crosses over the Potomac, before it cuts out.
NBC Chief Meteorologist Doug Kammerer said that at the time of the incident the water temperature in the river was around 37 degrees Fahrenheit.
Kammerer said that at that temperature someone in the water has only 15 to 20 minutes before they start suffering from hypothermia.
Kansas Senator Roger Marshall posted to his X saying: ‘I’ve seen the reports of a collision with a D.C. helicopter and an inbound flight from Wichita, KS.
‘We are in contact with authorities working to get answers. We ask you to join us in prayer for every single passenger and their families.’
The White House has also confirmed the nature of the crash, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirming live on air that President Trump had been made aware of the crash.
American Airlines said in a statement: ‘We’re aware of reports that American Eagle flight 5342, operated by PSA, with service from Wichita, Kansas (ICT) to Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA) has been involved in an incident. We will provide information as it becomes available.’
In a post to X, Vice President JD Vance said: ‘Please say a prayer for everyone involved in the mid-air collision near Reagan airport this evening.
‘We’re monitoring the situation, but for now let’s hope for the best.’
An FAA statement said: ‘A PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet collided in 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. It departed from Wichita, Kansas. The FAA and NTSB will investigate. The NTSB will lead the investigation.’
DailyMail.com has approached the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority for more information.
