After viewing video footage of the Washington plane crash, netizens are confused about how such a collision could take place, with some expressing their belief that something is amiss.
News outlets have released videos capturing the moment a helicopter collided with an American Airlines jet near Reagan Airport in Washington, D.C., on January 29, 2025. The widely discussed posts come after the FAA released a statement concerning what happened.
A video shared by the Daily Mail on TikTok shows the mid-air collision, where the airplane was approaching the airport when the helicopter, flying directly opposite the plane, crashed into it, triggering a massive explosion.
From the camera’s vantage point, the crash appeared as a flash of light before plumes of smoke rose and both the plane and helicopter fell into the Potomac River.The Daily Mail’s TikTok caption reads, “The airline has confirmed that there was 60 passengers and four crews members onboard Flight 5342 from Wichita, Kansas, to the Capital when the collision happened [sic].”
Additionally, first responders are searching the Potomac River near the airport. Upon seeing the footage from Daily Mail, many netizens flocked to comment sections, sharing their reactions to what happened.
“As a pilot, I’m shocked this happened. You have controllers that are meant to avoid this, & there’s less [sic] collisions actually at night cause of the anti-collision lights on each aircraft. :/,” asserted a TikToker.Many social media users echoed similar confusion over how the collision occurred. “this [sic] is so strange…” penned a person, while another expressed, “No no this makes no sense on so many levels….A collision on this level at such a low altitude…??? You’re telling me air traffic control was not monitoring their path? Did the pilots have nah [sic] gear????”
@dailymail An American Airlines regional passenger jet has crashed into a military helicopter while attempting to land at Reagan National Airport in Washington. Emergency services in the city are searching the Potomac River near the airport following the incident just before 9pm on Wednesday night. The airline has confirmed that there was 60 passengers and four crews members onboard Flight 5342 from Wichita, Kansas, to the Capital when the collision happened. NBC Washington are reporting that at least four people have been pulled from the water by rescue crews as dive teams survey the crash site. This is a developing story. Follow DailyMail for live updates. #washingtondc #plane #planecrash #americanairlines #helicopter #news #breakingnews ♬ Scary Tense – Steve Ralph
Another observer stated, “Prayers. How is this even possible 😢.” Reacting to a video shared on TikTok by NBC Washington, who posted the same footage with a reporter narrating the collision, a netizen said, “Blackhawk military helicopters can’t see other aircraft at night?? That plane has all its landing lights on. This is unbelievable!”
“Are military helicopters even supposed to be in that air. Space? [sic] Something is not right about this. What are they trying to distract us from now?” pondered a TikToker. Someone else wrote, “I don’t understand this is heart breaking [sic].”
Such comments continued, with yet another online spectator noting, “All that airspace and still they collide.” Others suspect that the incident may have been intentional. “That’s weird because it looks like the helicopter rammed the jet!” asserted a netizen.
Contextualizing the events of the collision, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) explained, “A PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet collided 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.”
Image from the plane crash tonight in Washington DC. Tragic. My heart breaks for everyone affected. pic.twitter.com/p14uxAa1Ox
— Harry Sisson (@harryjsisson) January 30, 2025
The organization also clarified that they, along with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), will investigate the incident, and will keep the public up to date with the latest information.
During a briefing, Kansas Senator Roger Marshall addressed the devastating plane crash, offering his condolences to the victims and their families. Reflecting on the magnitude of the tragedy, Marshall stated, “You know, when one person dies it’s a tragedy, but when many, many, many people die it’s an unbearable sorrow, it’s a heartbreak beyond major.”