WASHINGTON— A passenger jet went down near Ronald Reagan National Airport on Wednesday night, and all takeoffs and landings have been halted, according DC Fire and Rescue. The FAA reported that American Airlines flight 5342 departed from Wichita and collided midair with a Blackhawk helicopter. There were 60 passengers on board and 4 crew members, according to a statement from the airlines.
At 8:53p.m. multiple calls were received for an aircraft crash above the Potomac River, according to a statement from DC Police. DF Fire and Rescue, the Metropolitan Police and multiple partner agencies were conducting a search and rescue operation.
Multiple helicopters, including those from the U.S. Park Police and the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department and U.S. military, were flying over the scene of the incident in the Potomac River. D.C. Fire and EMS said on X that fireboats were on the scene.
Video from an observation camera at the nearby Kennedy Center shows two sets of lights consistent with aircraft appearing to conjoin in a fireball.
The airport said emergency personnel were responding to “an aircraft incident on the airfield.” As of 9p.m. there was no word on casualties or additional details.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.