Crash of PSA Airlines Flight Near Washington, D.C.

On Wednesday, the Federal Aviation Administration reported that PSA Airlines flight 5342 collided midair with a helicopter as it was about to land at Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington, D.C.

PSA Airlines, a fully owned subsidiary of American Airlines, operates regional routes for the airline. The incident involved a Bombardier CRJ700 aircraft.

Reports from The Wall Street Journal indicate the airplane had 60 passengers and four crew members on board. The helicopter was an Army Black Hawk, with three crew members, as reported by the New York Times and CNN.

American Airlines released a statement to Business Insider stating, 'We are informed about the incident involving American Eagle flight 5342, managed by PSA, on a trip from Wichita, Kansas (ICT) to Reagan National Airport (DCA). We will share updates as they become available.'

Following the collision, the airport implemented a ground stop, as per a post on its official communications platform.

A spokesperson from the DC Fire Department stated that no fatalities had been confirmed yet, and a 'search and rescue operation is underway.'

This incident is the first significant loss involving an aircraft in the U.S. since Colgan Air Flight 3407's crash in 2009, which resulted in 50 fatalities, including one person on the ground in Buffalo.