The Washington plane crash scene. | Source: Getty Images
After watching the shocking video footage of the Washington plane crash, netizens are left questioning how such a devastating collision could have occurred, with many speculating that something doesn’t add up.
News outlets have begun circulating clips showing the terrifying moment when a military helicopter collided with an American Airlines jet near Reagan Airport in Washington, D.C., on January 29, 2025. The viral discussions gained traction following an official statement from the FAA addressing the incident.
A video shared by the Daily Mail on TikTok captures the mid-air disaster. The footage shows the airplane approaching the airport when, in a horrifying twist, a helicopter flying directly toward the aircraft smashes into it, triggering a massive explosion.
@dailymail An American Airlines regional passenger jet has crashed into a military helicopter while attempting to land at Reagan National Airport in Washington. Emergency services in the city are searching the Potomac River near the airport following the incident just before 9pm on Wednesday night. The airline has confirmed that there was 60 passengers and four crews members onboard Flight 5342 from Wichita, Kansas, to the Capital when the collision happened. NBC Washington are reporting that at least four people have been pulled from the water by rescue crews as dive teams survey the crash site. This is a developing story. Follow DailyMail for live updates.#washingtondc #plane #planecrash #americanairlines #helicopter #news #breakingnews ♬ Scary Tense – Steve Ralph
From the camera’s perspective, the collision appears as a sudden flash of light, followed by thick plumes of smoke rising as both the plane and helicopter spiral down into the Potomac River.
In the video’s caption, Daily Mail reports, “The airline has confirmed that there were 60 passengers and four crew members onboard Flight 5342 from Wichita, Kansas, to the Capital when the collision happened [sic].”
The report further cites NBC Washington, stating, “At least four people have been pulled from the water by rescue crews as dive teams continue to survey the crash site.”
First responders are actively searching the Potomac River near the airport for survivors. Meanwhile, after seeing the disturbing footage, many users flooded the comment sections with their reactions.
“As a pilot, I’m shocked this happened. You have controllers that are meant to prevent this, & there are actually fewer collisions at night because of the anti-collision lights on each aircraft. :/,” wrote one TikTok user, expressing disbelief.
