Emergency service vehicles stand near the site of the crash after American Eagle flight 5342 collided with a helicopter while approaching Reagan Washington National Airport and crashed in the Potomac River, outside Washington, US, January 29, 2025.
Credit: REuters Photo
A small aircraft crashed in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Washington DC, USA, late Wednesday.
At least two bodies have been recovered, NBC affiliate WBAL reported.
US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he had been briefed on the "terrible accident" that occurred when a plane collided with a military helicopter and crashed into the Potomac River in Washington, D.C.
Three US Army soldiers were onboard a Black Hawk helicopter that collided with a passenger jet near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, a US official said.
The official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the status of the soldiers was unknown, but added that no senior officials were on the helicopter.
Another official said the Army UH-60 helicopter involved in the crash was based out of Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
The Ronald Reagan National Airport said late on Wednesday that all takeoffs and landings were halted at the airport in the Washington region as emergency personnel responded to an aircraft incident.
As more details emerge from the incident, we take a look a few previous incidents that occurred over the Potomac river:
Air Florida Flight 90 (January 13, 1982)
On January 13, 1982, Air Florida Flight 90 crashed into the 14th Street Bridge over the Potomac River, killing 78 people.
According to report in History TV, the plane was flying from Miami to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida via Washington.
After what was supposed to be a short stop, which was extended due to snowy conditions, the pilots took a risk with the de-icing of the plane to avoid further delays.
Eastern Air Lines Flight 537 (November 1, 1949)
At the time the deadliest airliner incident in US history, a mid-air collision between the Eastern Air Lines Flight 537, a passenger plane, and a Lockheed P-38 Lightning, a fighter jet out for a test run, killed 55 people. A portion of the wreckage fell on the banks of the Potomac River.
According to a report by Arlington Historical, the crash was reportedly caused by miscommunication between the air traffic control and the pilots, as well as some engine problems.
(With Reuters Inputs)