Washington National Airport is currently closed due to an aircraft collision that occurred on Wednesday, January 29 2025 — and all air traffic has been halted even though the terminal at the airport remains open.
Washington National Airport Currently Closed Due to Aircraft Collision: January 29 2025 Travel Alert
According to the official Internet web site of the Federal Aviation Administration of the United States:
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. It departed from Wichita, Kansas. The FAA and NTSB will investigate. The NTSB will lead the investigation.
All takeoffs and landings have been halted at DCA. Emergency personnel are responding to an aircraft incident on the airfield. The terminal remains open. Will update.
— Reagan Airport (@Reagan_Airport) January 30, 2025
The following message is at the top of the official Internet web site of American Airlines:
Important message
We’re aware of reports that American Eagle flight 5342, operated by PSA, with service from Wichita, Kansas (ICT) to Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA) has been involved in an incident. We will provide information as it becomes available.
Additional information has been posted here:
American Eagle Flight 5342 en route from Wichita, Kansas (ICT), to Washington, D.C. (DCA) was involved in an accident at DCA. The flight was operated by PSA Airlines with a CRJ-700.
There were 60 passengers and four crew members on board the aircraft.
Our concern is for the passengers and crew on board the aircraft. We are in contact with authorities and assisting with emergency response efforts.
If you believe you may have loved ones on board Flight 5342, call American Airlines toll-free at 800-679-8215. Those calling from outside the U.S. can visit news.aa.com for additional phone numbers. Family members in Canada, Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands can call 800-679-8215 directly.
American Airlines will continue to release information as it becomes available. Please monitor news.aa.com and American’s official X account @AmericanAir for the latest information.
This video is a message from Robert Isom, who is the current chief executive officer of American Airlines. The airline will fully cooperate with authorities during the investigation of this crash.
The National Transportation Safety Board of the United States will conduct the investigation with the Federal Aviation Administration.
Final Boarding Call
Statistics are still unknown at this time and much information is still unconfirmed — such as what factors led to the mid-air collision — although at least four survivors have reportedly been rescued from the Potomac River, as first responders are active at the scene of the crash. This unconfirmed report has apparently changed to a report that four bodies being recovered from the river.
More information will become available as details of the incident are reported.
Your travel plans will be affected if you are scheduled to fly as a passenger to or from this airport over the next couple of days. If you are unable to wait out the situation, contact your airline to see if you can use Washington Dulles International Airport or Baltimore Washington airport as alternatives.
In the meantime, my thoughts and prayers are with those who are directly involved in this tragedy — as well as their family members, friends, and colleagues…
An American Eagle airplane taxis behind an American Airlines airplane at Washington National Airport. Photograph ©2018 by Brian Cohen.
