American Airlines Flight 5342 Crash

On January 29, 2025, American Airlines Flight 5342 departed Wichita, Kansas, headed for Washington, D.C. As the aircraft neared Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), it collided mid-air with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter flying along a designated military route. The collision occurred over the Potomac River, less than a mile from the airport. The crash resulted in the deaths of all 64 people aboard the jet and the three service members aboard the helicopter.

While some early facts and analysis are available, the full cause of the crash remains under investigation by the NTSB, the FAA and the Department of Defense (DOD). 

These federal agencies are reviewing flight data, air traffic control communications, crew qualifications and equipment performance. The full story of what happened remains in question.

National Transportation Safety Board’s preliminary report

On March 11, 2025, the NTSB released its preliminary report on the AA Flight 5342 crash. It confirmed that the passenger jet collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near DCA during its final approach. The two aircraft were operating on different radio frequencies and may not have heard key transmissions from air traffic control. 

The helicopter’s crew, flying at low altitude under visual flight rules, was using night vision goggles. Investigators found that several warnings may not have been received or acted on in time.

As part of its early findings, the NTSB identified ongoing risks in the D.C. airspace, especially where helicopter routes overlap with commercial flight paths. The Board issued two urgent safety recommendations to the FAA:

• Close the helicopter route over the Potomac River near DCA when two particular runways are being used
• Designate a new route for helicopters during these closures

“By labeling the helicopter route an intolerable risk to aviation and demanding its immediate, permanent closure, the NTSB is sending a clear message about the urgency of the situation,” said attorney Mary Schiavo.

The NTSB cited 15,214 “close-proximity events” between helicopters and commercial airplanes from October 2021 to December 2024. In half of these incidents, the helicopter was flying above its altitude restriction. Two-thirds of these incidents occurred at night. The NTSB also noted that the FAA should have been reviewing this readily available data for safety trend analysis before the events of January 29, which Schiavo believes could have been prevented.

“The conflict alert in the Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower was clearly audible for 20 seconds before the collision,” Schiavo said. “The FAA ATC was obligated to alert the commercial flight and take immediate action to resolve the conflict, yet failed to do so, highlighting a critical lapse in safety protocol.”

The NTSB warnings proved justifiable when a Delta Air Lines flight and a U.S. Air Force jet narrowly avoided a mid-air collision in the same airspace on March 28, 2025.

Download the NTSB report.

Families of those killed in the American Airlines Flight 5342 crash may be eligible to file a wrongful death lawsuit. While the full investigation is ongoing, it is possible to bring legal action against one or more parties, depending on how fault is ultimately assigned. These parties include:

• The commercial airline and its operators
• Air traffic control entities
• The U.S. military, if operational decisions contributed to the crash
• Equipment manufacturers, if mechanical failures played a role

Wrongful death claims in aviation cases often rely on findings from federal investigations, including those by the NTSB. However, these investigations don’t determine legal liability. Civil aviation lawsuits follow a separate process and may uncover additional evidence through discovery, expert review and legal analysis.

Attorneys representing victims’ families will monitor developments closely as new details emerge about how and why the crash occurred.

Who was on Flight 5342?

The American Airlines Flight 5342 crew included two pilots and two flight attendants, and it was carrying 60 passengers when it crashed. Many of the passengers were members of the figure skating community or had close connections to the Washington, D.C., area. The remains of all passengers have been recovered.

Who was on the Black Hawk that crashed​?

The Black Hawk helicopter involved in the collision carried an instructor pilot, a second pilot and a crew chief — all U.S. Army service members. They were also killed in the crash and their remains have been recovered and identified.

Where was Flight 5342 coming from?

AA Flight 5342 departed from Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport in Kansas. The commercial jet was en route to Washington, D.C., and was descending for landing at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

How did Flight 5342 crash?

Flight 5342 crashed after colliding mid-air with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Washington, D.C. The aircraft were on different radio frequencies, and investigators found that critical warnings may not have been received. As of April 2025, the NTSB is still investigating the crash.

Our aviation attorneys have extensive experience seeking justice for victims of commercial airline disasters and military helicopter crashes. This includes:

• Investigating a UH-60 Black Hawk crash in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula in November 2020.
• Negotiating a settlement on behalf of families of passengers who lost their lives in 2015 after a U.S. Air Force F-16 collided mid-air with a Cessna 150 over Monks Corner, S.C.
• Investigating and litigating a case involving a MH-60 Black Hawk crash off the Yemen coast after engine failure. (The case is against General Electric and other component manufacturers.)
• Negotiating a settlement on behalf of families of five Italian passengers who died when a commercial helicopter collided mid-air with a Piper PA-32R-300 plane over the Hudson River in 2009  
• Litigating the case of a U.S. Army-owned Sikorsky MH-60M Black Hawk helicopter that crashed during a training flight at Hunter Army Airfield near Savannah, Georgia, in 2014 (The crash resulted in the death of the pilot and serious injuries to the other crew members.)

If you have information or someone you know has information about the crash of American Airlines Flight 5342 that may assist Motley Rice’s investigation of this crash, contact Motley Rice aviation attorneys Mary Schiavo and Jim Brauchle.