Tragic Washington Crash: How a Midair Collision Between Plane and Helicopter Claimed 67 Lives

WASHINGTON — On a cold, clear night in Washington, disaster struck as an American Airlines flight collided midair with a military Black Hawk helicopter. Flight 5342, en route from Wichita with 60 passengers and four crew, was descending towards Reagan National Airport when it crossed paths with the helicopter, which was conducting a routine training flight over the Potomac River.

The first warning of the impending crash came from air traffic controllers, who were unable to prevent the collision. A dramatic fireball lit up the sky as the two aircraft collided, and both plunged into the icy waters below. Witnesses described the horrifying scene, with one driver noting the plane appeared "normal" before it veered sharply and emitted a stream of sparks.

A massive rescue operation involving 300 first responders quickly shifted to a recovery mission, with all 67 people aboard presumed dead. Among the victims were figure skaters returning from a competition in Wichita. At Reagan National, family members awaiting passengers from the flight were devastated upon hearing the news of the crash. Hamaad Raza, whose wife was on the flight, shared his final messages with her before realizing something was wrong.