A small aircraft crashed near the Reagan National Airport on Wednesday.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed to The Hill that a regional jet departing from Wichita, Kansas, collided with a helicopter while approaching the airport.
“A PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet collided in midair with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter while on approach to Runway 33 at Reagan Washington National Airport around 9 p.m. local time. PSA was operating as Flight 5342 for American Airlines,” the FAA said in a statement
The agency added that it will investigate the incident alongside the National Transportation Safety Board.
In a post on the social media platform X, the DC Fires and Emergency Medical Services Department confirmed that a small aircraft had gone down in the Potomac River near the airport in Virginia.
“Fireboats on the scene,” the post also said.
Reagan National Airport said in a post on X, “takeoffs and landings have been halted” and emergency personnel were responding to an “aircraft incident on the airfield. The terminal remains open. Will update.”
“I’ve seen the reports of a collision with a D.C. helicopter and an inbound flight from Wichita, KS,” Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) said on X Wednesday night. “We are in contact with authorities working to get answers. We ask you to join us in prayer for every single passenger and their families.”
Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) also said on X that he was finding out “that a plane inbound from Kansas was involved in a crash at DCA.”
“I am in contact with authorities,” he added. “Please join me in praying for all involved.”
In a X post, the Washington police department said a multi-agency response is underway.
The police department stated that reports of the crash were first reported at around 8:53 p.m. local time. The department said there are no updates on casualties as of about 10 p.m.
The Hill has reached out to the Federal Aviation Administration, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority and American Airlines for comment.
This story is developing.
Updated at 10:02 p.m. EST
