A small plane collided with an Army helicopter and crashed into the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) on January 30, 2025, killing all on board both aircraft. The incident occurred around 4:00 PM ET, approximately 3 miles north of the airport, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) .
The small plane, identified as a single-engine Piper PA-32, was en route to DCA from Westchester County Airport in New York when it collided with a U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. Witnesses reported seeing the two aircraft collide mid-air before plunging into the river near the George Washington Memorial Parkway .
Emergency responders, including the U.S. Coast Guard and Arlington County Fire Department, quickly arrived at the scene. Divers recovered wreckage from both aircraft and confirmed there were no survivors. The number of passengers and crew on board the plane and helicopter has not yet been disclosed .
The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash. NTSB officials are expected to arrive at the scene on January 31 to examine the wreckage and gather evidence. Preliminary reports suggest that air traffic control had cleared both aircraft for flight in the same airspace, raising questions about communication and coordination .
Reagan National Airport briefly suspended operations following the crash but resumed normal activity by 6:00 PM ET. The crash did not impact commercial flights, as the plane and helicopter were operating under general aviation and military rules, respectively .
Local residents and commuters reported hearing a loud noise before seeing the aircraft plunge into the river. “It was surreal,” said one witness. “One moment they were there, and the next, they were gone” . The crash caused temporary traffic disruptions along the George Washington Memorial Parkway, a major commuter route. Authorities urged drivers to avoid the area as emergency crews worked to secure the scene .
This incident marks the first fatal crash near Reagan National Airport since 1982, when Air Florida Flight 90 struck the 14th Street Bridge and plunged into the Potomac, killing 78 people . The airport, located just across the river from Washington, D.C., is one of the busiest in the region, handling over 25 million passengers annually .
The NTSB’s investigation is expected to take months, with a preliminary report due within 10 days. Officials will examine factors such as weather conditions, mechanical issues, and air traffic control communication to determine the cause of the collision .
