UPDATE: Authorities Address Media Following Air Crash Close to Reagan Airport

Officials in Washington, D.C. held a press conference around 1 AM Thursday morning to address the mid-air collision between an American Airlines regional jet and an Army UH-60 helicopter at approximately 9 PM Wednesday night. According to reports from DC police scanner traffic, at least 18 bodies have been recovered from the Potomac River.

Before the press conference, it was noted that the helicopter was found overturned and submerged in the Potomac River, while the fuselage of the American Airlines jet was visible above the waterline.

🚨#BREAKING: A recent photo reveals the wreckage of PSA America Airlines Flight 5342, which went down in the Potomac River during an attempted landing at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in D.C. pic.twitter.com/idq5zekNQh

— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) January 30, 2025

Washington D.C. Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly said there are about 300 responders working the incident and multiple fire and police boats on scene and that the windy and cold conditions are “extremely rough” for responders. The water is about 8 feet deep, Donnelly explained, and icy. Donnelly would not give any casualty numbers, and said they hoped to find survivors but had not located any yet.

Prior to the news conference, officials announced that Reagan National Airport would be closed until 5 AM Friday morning.

Playback purportedly from the official Air Traffic Control radar was shared on X:

🚨#BREAKING: Shared to me anonymously shows the Playback from official Air Traffic Control radar

📌#Washington | #DC

Watch as exclusive playback, sent anonymously by @avgeekjake to Rawsalerst, reveals official Air Traffic Control radar footage displaying the Collision Alert.… pic.twitter.com/s2SvT2OTPJ

— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) January 30, 2025

According to Rawsalerts’ source:

This alert is not for an imminent collision but serves as a tool to draw heightened attention from the controllers to potential risks. The footage then captures the critical moment when both aircraft collided, emphasizing the urgency of the controllers’ split-second decisions. The radar data provides a detailed view of the events leading up to the crash, offering valuable insight into the sequence of actions and how the situation ultimately unfolded.

American Airlines CEO Robert Isom released a video statement late Wednesday about the crash:

🚨#BREAKING: A statement from American Airlines CEO Robert Isom has been released regarding tonight’s plane crash, expressing the company’s deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those affected pic.twitter.com/P97Um6ddBg

— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) January 30, 2025

Watch the news conference below: