Midair Collision Near Reagan National Airport: 67 Feared Dead

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Washington, D.C. – January 29, 2025

A devastating midair collision between an American Eagle Bombardier CRJ-701ER, operating as PSA Airlines flight JIA5342, and a U.S. Army Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter resulted in the deaths of all 64 passengers and crew aboard the CRJ-701 and the three Army personnel in the helicopter. The collision occurred at approximately 20:48 local time over the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).

Accident Details

Flight JIA5342 was en route from Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT) to DCA and was executing a final approach to runway 33. Simultaneously, the Black Hawk helicopter, callsign PAT25, was conducting a low-altitude night evaluation training exercise, traveling from north to south along the Potomac River.

Preliminary reports indicate that the crew of the Black Hawk was using night vision goggles at the time of the collision. The impact sent both aircraft into the river, resulting in their destruction. Emergency response teams have been deployed, but officials fear there are no survivors.

Weather and Flight Conditions

The METAR reports for DCA around the time of the incident indicate clear skies with good visibility (10 statute miles). Winds were recorded at 290-300 degrees at 14-15 knots, with gusts up to 25 knots. The presence of strong crosswinds could have contributed to difficulties in maneuvering, though visibility was not a factor.

Possible Causes Under Investigation

While the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation, our analysts have identified several possible contributing factors:

  1. Airspace Coordination and Communication Issues – The airspace around DCA is highly congested and tightly controlled. The coordination between civil and military air traffic control may be scrutinized to determine if miscommunication played a role.

  2. Altitudinal Conflict and Flight Path Overlap – The Black Hawk was reportedly flying at a low altitude, possibly in airspace designated for incoming commercial flights. Investigators will examine whether the helicopter was within its assigned altitude and if the CRJ-701ER was cleared properly for its approach.

  3. Pilot Awareness and Night Vision Limitations – The use of night vision goggles (NVGs) by the Black Hawk crew raises questions about depth perception and visibility limitations. NVGs can sometimes make it difficult to detect fast-moving aircraft in peripheral vision.

  4. Air Traffic Control (ATC) Handling – ATC recordings will be reviewed to determine whether proper separation was maintained and if appropriate instructions were issued to both aircraft.

  5. Mechanical or Navigational Issues – While unlikely given the preliminary reports, investigators will assess whether mechanical failures or navigation system errors contributed to the incident.

Next Steps

The NTSB will conduct a thorough investigation, including analysis of flight data recorders (black boxes) from both aircraft if recoverable. Eyewitness reports, radar data, and ATC communications will be key in determining the sequence of events leading to the crash.

Authorities urge the public to refrain from speculation until official findings are released. More updates will follow as the investigation progresses.

Sources:

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Confidence Rating

The information provided is based on news reports and social media sources, which may not always be fully verified. This analysis is a self-effort and does not reflect official statements or conclusions. As such, the confidence rating for this data is considered unofficial and subject to further investigation.

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Location: Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), 2401 Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Access Rd, Arlington, VA 22202, USA

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