The Detroit News

The dramatic and tragic collision that occurred over the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, with a U.S. Army Sikorsky UH-60L Hawk helicopter striking midair American Airlines Flight 5342, which was operated as a bombardier CRJ700 regional jet. All the 67 people aboard both planes died in the crash.
Flight 5342, operated by PSA Airlines flying the American Eagle brand, was on its final stop at Reagan National Airport after taking off from Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport in Kansas. At the same time, the Black Hawk helicopter, attached to the 12th aviation Battalion at Davison Army Airfield in Virginia, was on a routine night training mission. Preliminary data suggests that the collision occurred at an altitude of approximately 325 feet, with both aircrafts in contact with air traffic controllers at the same time of the incident. The helicopter crew had reported the jet in sight and had assured controllers that they would maintain separation.
The emergency services were called at 8:48 pm about the crash. The first units arrived on the scene in ten minutes. Responders included the District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department, The Metropolitan Police Department, and the U.S. Coast Guard, among others. Rescue efforts were hindered by freezing winter conditions, with icy waters and freezing temperatures. All bodies were recovered and identified by February 4th.
Following the crash, Reagan National Airport shut down all operations and rerouted flights to other nearby airports. The Federal Aviation Administration has since placed some restrictions on some helicopter flights around the airport. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the cause of the crash, showing factors such as flight paths and communication protocols.
This accident is the most fatal U.S. air disaster since nearly 16 years ago when the 2009 Colgan Air Flight 3407 crashed. It also brings to mind previous aviation crashes in the Washington, D.C. area, such as the 1982 Air Florida 90 crash into the Potomac River and the 1949 midair collision of Eastern Air Lines Flight 537.
The accident has communities in Wichita, Kansas, and Washington, D.C., hard. Vigils have been planned to honor the victims, and grief counseling services are being offered to bereaved families. The crash has also triggered controversy surrounding aviation safety and military and civilian airspace coordination procedures. As the investigation continues, authorities are keen to determine the cause of this tragic accident in order to prevent such tragedies in future.