Ronald Reagan Airport Shuts Down After Collision Between Plane and Black Hawk Helicopter
(This article has been revised to include updated information and to correct errors in the headline and content.)
Early Thursday, officials declared that Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport will remain closed until at least 11 a.m. ET on Thursday following a midair collision between a passenger jet and a military Black Hawk helicopter in the vicinity of the airport.
The airport’s status is reflected as closed on the National Airspace System Status website, which also indicates a ground halt will be in effect until at least 5 a.m. ET Thursday. “This situation is subject to change,” said John Potter, President and CEO of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, during a press conference early Thursday morning.
American Airlines flight 5342, coming from Wichita, Kansas, and operated by PSA Airlines, was about to land when it “collided in midair” with the Army helicopter around 9 p.m. ET, as reported by authorities.
The passenger flight had 64 individuals on board, while the military helicopter, engaged in a training exercise, was carrying three soldiers, according to FOX News and POLITICO.
In a statement released just before 11 p.m. ET by the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department and DC Fire and EMS, they noted that “there is no confirmed information regarding casualties at this time.”
This is an ongoing story
Contributing: Kathleen Wong, Thao Nguyen, Joey Garrison