American Airlines reports American Eagle flight 5342 departed Wichita Kansas Wednesday evening, bound for Washington, D.C. (DCA). Amongst the flight were 60 passengers and 4 crew members. The aircraft was a CRJ-700, operated by PSA Airlines.
Around 9pm, as the CRJ was approaching to land on runway 33 in DCA, the flight collided with an Army UH-60L Blackhawk helicopter. This traffic event occurred over the Potomac River. Emergency crews are operating in roughly 8-ft. deep, cold waters of the river, attempting search and rescue missions for any survivors and bodies. Early reports claim that 19 bodies have been recovered but the mission is still ongoing.
The Army helicopter, said to have taken off near Langley, Virginia, is reported to have had 3 troops on board.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released an early statement, saying “The FAA and NTSB will investigate. The NTSB will lead the investigation. We will provide updates as information comes in.”
Aviation Week states that this is the first crash to have involved a CRJ-700 jet.