American Airlines Plane Collides with Military Helicopter at DCA
An American Airlines passenger jet collided with a military helicopter while attempting to land at Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington, D.C., on Wednesday night, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported. Flight 5342, which had originated from Wichita, Kansas, was carrying up to 65 passengers, according to the airline’s website.
Following the incident, multiple emergency response teams were dispatched to the scene, including helicopters from the U.S. Park Police, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, and U.S. military units. The D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services indicated via social media platform X that fireboats were deployed to assist on the Potomac River, where the collision occurred.
Footage from a nearby surveillance camera at the Kennedy Center reportedly captured the moment, showing two sets of lights merging in a fireball. The airport confirmed that emergency personnel were actively responding to "an aircraft incident on the airfield," but no further details have been released regarding the condition of those involved.
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