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American Airlines Flight 5342 plane crash

American Airlines Flight 5342 plane crash

American Airlines Flight 5342 collided midair with an Army helicopter on January 29, 2025. Learn more here.

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Case Overview

Around 9 p.m. on Wednesday, January 29, an Army helicopter collided midair with a passenger jet. The jet was American Airlines Flight 5342, a Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet carrying 60 passengers and four crew members. It was involved in a crash with a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter in Washington, D.C. The aircraft then crash-landed in the Potomac River.

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What happened with AA Flight 5342?

Early reports indicate the plane crash happened while the commercial flight, which departed from Wichita, Kansas, was approaching Runway 33 at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Officials have shared with media that three soldiers were on board the military helicopter when the aircraft collided. American Airlines stated at a press conference that 60 passengers and four crew members were on board the regional jet. 

Mid-air collision and when the investigation will begin [video]

Watch aviation attorney Jim Brauchle discuss AA flight 5342 with FOX 5 Washington DC:

Contact an Aviation Lawyer

If you or someone you love was injured in a plane crash, you may contact Motley Rice aviation attorney and former U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General Mary Schiavo or aviation attorney and former Air Force Navigator James Brauchle by email.

Frequently asked questions about the Flight 5342 crash

Where did the AA Flight 5342 crash happen?

The Wednesday, January 29, crash between a passenger jet flight and an Army helicopter happened midair above the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). The Potomac River forms the border between Virginia and Washington, D.C.

Did anyone die in the Reagan airport plane crash?

The investigation into the midair crash between AA Flight 5342 and a military helicopter is still ongoing. However, early reports indicate none of the passengers survived. As of January 30, around midday, 28 bodies had been recovered from the Potomac River.  Sixty-four people were aboard the American Airlines flight. The three crew members of the Black Hawk helicopter also died in the collision, and their bodies have been recovered.

Who died in the Flight 5342 plane crash?

Early reports indicate all 64 people aboard American Airlines Flight 5342 and the Army Black Hawk that collided on January 29 died in the accident. Among those reported to be involved in the crash are three soldiers, 14 members of the figure skating community, and a number of people with close connections to the local Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia area. 

Why did the Wednesday, January 29 crash happen?

Officials have not reached a conclusion about what caused the crash between the American Airlines flight and an Army helicopter. Officials have said flight conditions were clear. One Army official said they couldn’t confirm if the helicopter crew used night vision eyewear. Others are speculating about whether issues with staffing at air traffic control could be to blame.

Our aviation experience

Our aviation attorneys have extensive experience seeking justice for victims of commercial plane disasters and military helicopter crashes through investigations and litigation. 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 lost their lives in 2009 after a commercial helicopter collided mid-air with a Piper PA-32R-300 plane over the Hudson River.  
  • 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.

What happened with AA Flight 5342?

Video from Fox 5 DC

Contact an Aviation Lawyer

Frequently asked questions about the Flight 5342 crash

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