Flight Safety Information  - January 29, 2025    SPECIAL-2

In This Issue


: Crash: PSA CRJ7 at Washington on Jan 29th 2025, midair collision with helicopter on final

 


Crash: PSA CRJ7 at Washington on Jan 29th 2025, midair collision with helicopter on final

A PSA Airlines Canadair CRJ-700 on behalf of American Airlines, registration N709PS performing flight AA-5342 from Wichita,KS to Washington National,DC (USA) with 60 passengers and 4 crew, had been on approach to National's runway 01 and was asked by tower whether they could land runway 33, which the crew affirmed, the aircraft was subsequently cleared to land on runway 33. The aircraft was on final approach to National's runway 33 about 0.6nm before the runway threshold when the aircraft collided with a military Sikorsky H-60 helicopter, both aircraft fell into the Potomac River at 21:16L (01:16Z). "Tower, did you see that?" somebody radioed at 01:16:39z. All subsequent approaches were instructed to go around, departures were halted. About 3.5 hours later no survivors have been recovered.

The airport was temporarily closed, subsequently runway 15/33 remained closed.

Tower told aircraft waiting for departures that there had been a collision on finals to runway 33, the airfield was closed and they should return to the apron and shut engines down.

The FAA reported: "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."

The US Army reported a Blackhawk UH-60 departing Belvoir,VA (USA) was involved in the midair collision. According to preliminary information there were 3 people on board of the helicopter.

Related NOTAMs:
!DCA 01/745 DCA RWY 15/33 CLSD 2501300150-2501312100
!DCA 01/746 DCA AD AP CLSD 2501300155-2501310400

Metars:
KDCA 300352Z 30008KT 10SM CLR 08/M06 A2997 RMK AO2 SLP147 T00831061=
KDCA 300252Z 30007KT 10SM CLR 09/M07 A2993 RMK AO2 SLP136 ACFT MSHP T00891067 51037=
KDCA 300245Z 29007KT 10SM CLR 09/M07 A2993 RMK AO2 ACFT MSHP T00891067=
KDCA 300152Z 30014G23KT 270V330 10SM CLR 10/M07 A2990 RMK AO2 PK WND 30033/0108 SLP126 T01001072=
KDCA 300052Z 29015G25KT 10SM CLR 11/M07 A2987 RMK AO2 SLP114 T01061072=
KDCA 292352Z 28010G18KT 10SM CLR 11/M07 A2982 RMK AO2 SLP098 T01111067 10178 20106 51046=
KDCA 292252Z 31011G23KT 10SM FEW050 12/M07 A2978 RMK AO2 PK WND 32026/2228 SLP084 T01171067=
KDCA 292152Z 31013G26KT 10SM FEW050 13/M06 A2973 RMK AO2 PK WND 29035/2103 SLP068 T01281061=

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