Regional jet carrying 64, military helicopter on training flight collide near Reagan National Airport

A regional jet carrying 60 passengers and four crew members collided with a military helicopter on Wednesday night as it approached Reagan National Airport.

The flight was en route from Wichita, Kansas to Washington, D.C., American Airlines said in a statement.

"Our concern is for the passengers and crew on board the aircraft. We are in contact with authorities and assisting with emergency response efforts," the airline said.

The regional jet collided in mid-air with the helicopter while on approach to Runway 33 at the airport around 9 p.m. local time, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said in a statement to The Hill. The agency said it will investigate the incident alongside the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

An Army UH-60 helicopter out of Fort Belvoir, Virginia, was the helicopter involved in the crash, the Army confirmed in a statement to The Hill.

The helicopter was on a "routine training flight," Joint Task Force-National Capitol Region media chief Heather Chairez said in a statement. It belonged to Bravo Company, 12th Aviation Battalion out of Davison Army Airfield, Fort Belvoir.

In a X post, the Washington D.C. police department said a multi-agency response is underway.

DC Mayor Muriel Bowser, along with police and fire officials, said in an early Thursday morning press conference that both aircraft were in the water. The helicopter was carrying three people, they said.

Approximately 300 emergency responders were conducting a multi-agency search-and-rescue operation on a windy night in cold waters, making rescue efforts difficult. Bowser said they could not comment on the number of survivors and fatalities at the time.

However, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz (R) said in a post Wednesday there were fatalities, but he did not know how many. He added that he would receive a briefing from the FAA on Thursday.

"Please join Heidi and me in praying for all involved as the search and rescue is underway," Cruz said.

American Airlines CEO Rober Isom said in a video that the airline was "cooperating fully" with authorities and the NTSB's investigation.

"Anything we can do now, we're doing. And right now, that means focusing on taking care of all passengers and crew involved as well as their families," Isom said, adding that the airlines had created a hotline for those who believed their family or loved ones were on the flight.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Fox News on Wednesday night said that President Trump had been made aware of the situation, joining Fox for a previously scheduled interview just minutes after news reports of the crash.

“The thoughts and the prayers of the entire Trump administration are with all those who are involved and we ask the public in this area to please stand for guidance from law enforcement and allow them to do their job as they attempt to save lives right now,” she added.

Trump confirmed in a statement that he had been briefed about the crash and was monitoring the situation.

"May God Bless their souls. Thank you for the incredible work being done by our first responders," Trump said in the statement.

Trump posted on TruthSocial early Thursday that the passenger plane had been "on a perfect and routine line of approach" while the helicopter was "going straight at the airplane for an extended period of time."

"It is a CLEAR NIGHT, the lights on the plane were blazing, why didn’t the helicopter go up or down, or turn. Why didn’t the control tower tell the helicopter what to do instead of asking if they saw the plane," Trump said in the post. "This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented. NOT GOOD!!!"

Transportation Sec. Sean Duffy, who was just confirmed to his Cabinet post on Tuesday, said in a statement Wednesday night that he is "on site at the FAA HQ and closely monitoring the situation."

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said "every available U.S. Coast Guard resource" was being deployed for search and rescue efforts.

Vice President Vance in a Wednesday night post said he was also monitoring the situation and asked to "hope for the best."

"Please say a prayer for everyone involved in the mid-air collision near Reagan airport this evening," Vance said.

The DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department was among the first to confirm in a post on X that a "small aircraft" had gone down in the Potomac River near the airport in Virginia on Wednesday night.

"Fireboats on the scene," the post also said.

Soon after the crash happened, the Reagan National Airport said in a post, "takeoffs and landings have been halted" and emergency personnel were responding to an "aircraft incident on the airfield. The terminal remains open. Will update."

During Thursday morning's press conference, officials said the airport would remain closed until "at least 11 a.m."

“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.”

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly (D) said she was aware of the crash and was actively in contact with authorities.

"My thoughts go out to those involved. I will share more information as it becomes available," Kelly said in a post on X.

The Hill has reached out to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority for comment.

Updated at 1:50 a.m. EST

Ellen Mitchell contributed to this report.

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