A tragic midair collision occurred late Wednesday night over Washington, D.C., between a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines regional jet.
The crash, which sent both aircraft into the Potomac River, resulted in the loss of all lives onboard—60 passengers and four crew members on American Airlines Flight 5342, and three U.S. Army personnel on the Black Hawk. The helicopter was on a Continuity of Government mission. Authorities are investigating the sequence of events, raising concerns over air traffic safety and coordination between military and civilian aviation. The crash highlights the risks of military exercises in civilian airspace during sensitive operations.
