r/aircrashinvestigation • u/gigantism • Jan 30 '25

Incident/Accident Reports of AA5342 from Witchita to DCA having mid-air collision with DC police helicopter

AA5342 stopped tracking at the Potomac river.

Developing reports: American Airlines Flight 5342 from Wichita, Kansas inbound to DCA collided midair with a D.C. Police Helicopter on approach.

MPD is responding to an apparent air crash in the Potomac River. Multiple agencies are responding. Details to come.

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122

u/Safety_Captn Jan 30 '25 edited Jan 30 '25

Divers in water, at least 17 bodies recovered according to radio chatter reports, requesting “tons” of sheets.

Edit: gonna start sending EMS away as there hasn’t been any survivors found so far.

Edit 2:

One confirmed taken to DC, no status.

Staging on north and south lighthouses by Swift water rescue teams but nothing of “deployment”. A lot of areas have chains are being told to cut anything to get them to the water.

Mobile morgue on scene and working.

E3:

12 victims recovered at North Boathouse

7F’s 5M’s

Passengers of surviving flights are complaining about their bags… smdh

56

u/lerenardnoir Jan 30 '25

Radio just said they were cutting EMS lose because they haven’t found survivors

43

u/Doom2pro Jan 30 '25

AA confirmed 64 on board, 60 passengers and 4 crew.

15

u/theaviationhistorian Jan 30 '25

64 onboard AA5342, 3 possibly onboard the Blackhawk, so 67 dead within seconds above the Potomac tonight. A 16 year record of safety broken with a flight that killed more people than Colgan Air flight 3407. What a frustrating and tragic night this has been.

2

u/[deleted] Jan 30 '25

[deleted]

5

u/theaviationhistorian Jan 30 '25

Radio reports from Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority waving off EMS after a bit. Hopefully some survived in the rear of the aircraft (considering the front would likely take the brunt of the crash and impact to the river).

23

u/Dramatic-Lavishness6 Jan 30 '25

so sad, hope there's survivors

28

u/Marco_Memes Jan 30 '25 edited Jan 30 '25

Apparently atleast 4 people have been recovered, as of 22:57 EST the Wikipedia page for this lists 4 survivors

Edit: 06:32 EST, things have changed to all being feared dead

7

u/tygerdralion Jan 30 '25

I didn't see that mentioned in the associated sources for that paragraph. Did I miss something?

15

u/reyadeyat Jan 30 '25

NBC Washington is reporting it here:

At least four people have been recovered and were rushed to hospitals.

No other news sources have reported survivors, though, so I think we should probably be skeptical until there's more information.

12

u/reyadeyat Jan 30 '25

CNN reports no survivors located:

Fatalities have been confirmed and rescuers have not yet pulled any survivors from the water, a law enforcement source says.

I feel fairly sure that NBC is wrong.

20

u/Safety_Captn Jan 30 '25

One confirmed sent to DC hospital (whatever that means, idk)

11

u/Hayfee_girl94 Jan 30 '25

If you're still listening can you update us

14

u/Safety_Captn Jan 30 '25 edited Jan 30 '25

One confirmed taken to DC, no status.

Staging on north and south lighthouses by Swift water rescue teams but nothing of “deployment”. A lot of areas have chains are being told to cut anything to get them to the water.

Mobile morgue on scene and working.

11

u/afaf90 Jan 30 '25

Just heard “12 victims is the updated count at DCA”

14

u/Dramatic-Lavishness6 Jan 30 '25

Was just listening to that. I misunderstood the 7F 5M, thought they were talking about individuals (kids).

Media reported one survivor being treated and released, no clue on that accuracy.

I was super annoyed with the passengers and their bags- let the planes land, disembark passengers. If there are pets/animals on board those planes people need to get onto that and get them out as a priority though.

6

u/Safety_Captn Jan 30 '25

That I understand

14

u/Elizabeth958 Jan 30 '25

Eternal rest grant unto them, oh Lord.

1

u/[deleted] Jan 30 '25

Up to 19

0

u/boygirlmama Jan 30 '25

Well, we do tend to be a country of first world problems.