‘This Is So Strange’: Users React to the Video of Mid-Air Collision Near Reagan Airport

News outlets have released videos capturing the moment a helicopter collided with an American Airlines jet near Reagan Airport in Washington, D.C., on January 29, 2025. The widely discussed posts come after the FAA released a statement concerning what happened.

A video shared by the Daily Mail on TikTok shows the mid-air collision, where the airplane was approaching the airport when the helicopter, flying directly opposite the plane, crashed into it, triggering a massive explosion.

From the camera’s vantage point, the crash appeared as a flash of light before plumes of smoke rose and both the plane and helicopter fell into the Potomac River.

The Daily Mail’s TikTok caption reads, “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 [sic].”

Additionally, first responders are searching the Potomac River near the airport. Upon seeing the footage from Daily Mail, many netizens flocked to comment sections, sharing their reactions to what happened.

“As a pilot, I’m shocked this happened. You have controllers that are meant to avoid this, & there’s less [sic] collisions actually at night cause of the anti-collision lights on each aircraft. :/,” asserted a TikToker.

Many social media users echoed similar confusion over how the collision occurred. “this [sic] is so strange…” penned a person, while another expressed, “No no this makes no sense on so many levels….A collision on this level at such a low altitude…??? You’re telling me air traffic control was not monitoring their path? Did the pilots have nah [sic] gear????”

Another observer stated, “Prayers. How is this even possible 😢.” Reacting to a video shared on TikTok by NBC Washington, who posted the same footage with a reporter narrating the collision, a netizen said, “Blackhawk military helicopters can’t see other aircraft at night?? That plane has all its landing lights on. This is unbelievable!”

“Are military helicopters even supposed to be in that air. Space? [sic] Something is not right about this. What are they trying to distract us from now?” pondered a TikToker. Someone else wrote, “I don’t understand this is heart breaking [sic].”

Such comments continued, with yet another online spectator noting, “All that airspace and still they collide.” Others suspect that the incident may have been intentional. “That’s weird because it looks like the helicopter rammed the jet!” asserted a netizen.

Contextualizing the events of the collision, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) explained, “A PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet collided midair with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter while on approach to Runway 33 at Reagan Washington National Airport around 9 p.m. local time. PSA was operating as Flight 5342 for American Airlines.”

The organization also clarified that they, along with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), will investigate the incident, and will keep the public up to date with the latest information.

During a briefing, Kansas Senator Roger Marshall addressed the devastating plane crash, offering his condolences to the victims and their families. Reflecting on the magnitude of the tragedy, Marshall stated, “You know, when one person dies it’s a tragedy, but when many, many, many people die it’s an unbearable sorrow, it’s a heartbreak beyond major.”

Marshall, standing alongside fellow Senator Jerry Moran, acknowledged the immense loss suffered by the victims’ communities, particularly those in Kansas. “I know Senator Moran and I are here just to say we care, we wish that there was more we could do, but unfortunately there doesn’t seem much at this time,” he said somberly.

The senator emphasized the profound grief felt by those who lost loved ones, comparing the sorrow to past tragedies the state has endured.

“We’ve been through things like this before, through tornadoes and floods and things, but it’s really hard when you lose, you know, probably over 60 Kansans simultaneously,” highlighted Marshall.

He also took a moment to recognize the lives of the pilots, flight attendants, and military personnel involved in the collision, stressing the importance of their service. “All those lives are so valuable, and it is such a tragedy that we lost them,” he remarked.

As the investigation into the mid-air collision continues, news outlets remain at the forefront, delivering real-time updates as new details emerge. CBS News recently reported distressing developments in the search efforts, including the discovery of human remains washing up along the Virginia side of the Potomac River.

According to CBS News senior transportation and national correspondent Kris Van Cleave, the impact of the crash caused the plane to break into multiple pieces, now submerged in five to eight feet of water. In a critical breakthrough, a dive team recovered one of the aircraft’s two black boxes.

However, officials have not yet confirmed whether it is the cockpit voice recorder or the flight data recorder, both of which could provide crucial insights into what led to the tragic collision.

Divers have managed to access portions of the aircraft’s cabin, where they have retrieved luggage and other debris. Meanwhile, the helicopter, though found upside down in the water, appears to be largely intact.

As emergency efforts persist, authorities have confirmed the scale of the ongoing search-and-rescue mission. During a press conference at Reagan National Airport, D.C. Fire and EMS Chief John A. Donnelly Sr. revealed that approximately 300 responders are actively working to locate survivors and recover remains from the Potomac River.

“At 8:58 (p.m.), the first units arrived on the scene and found an aircraft in the water and began rescue operations. This incident has grown,” stated Donnelly, explaining that the initial alert was triggered at 8:48 p.m.

With conditions described as dark, cold, and windy, responders face significant challenges as they navigate the murky waters in their urgent efforts.

According to CNN, in light of the tragic event, Reagan National Airport has been temporarily shut down. Jack Potter, the president and CEO of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, announced that the airport will remain closed until at least 11 a.m. ET on Thursday (today). However, he assured that operations at Washington Dulles International Airport remain unaffected.

Aside from what government officials, organizations, and media outlets have reported concerning the crash, a witness gave his account of what he saw and heard at the time of the collision.

The witness, Abadi Ismail, who was in the Buzzard Point area near James Creek Marina, disclosed, “I have an advantage view of the Potomac River, the Anacostia River, Reagan Airport, the military base. I have cinematic view so I could see everything that is happening from the moment the crash happened [sic],”

Ismail recounted that he was watching television when he heard a loud and unusual sound. “It was a bang, bang, very loud bang, bang. Something I’m not familiar with, something you don’t normally hear,” he stated.

Upon looking out his window, Ismail saw smoke rising from the south side of the airport. At first, he struggled to comprehend what had happened. However, within minutes, emergency responders, including the D.C. Park Police, Coast Guard, D.C. Police, Arlington Police, and fire trucks, arrived at the scene.

“Every resource within D.C. were heading toward the crash scene. That’s when I took the video. Somewhere around 8:50 p.m. [sic],” he recalled.

As emergency responders worked through the night, more details emerged about the challenges faced at the crash scene. Ismail noted that the Potomac River was frozen due to the 39-degree temperatures, complicating rescue efforts. “That’s another hassle that the U.S. Coast Guard has to maneuver through all this ice in order to get to the crash scene,” he explained.

He also pointed out that based on what he had observed and heard from contacts at D.C. Park, the situation had shifted from a search-and-rescue mission to a recovery effort.

“The crash scene is about two miles from where I’m at. Based on what I see, I have friends that work at the D.C. Park. Based on their analysis on the site, this is not a search and rescue mission at this point. Unfortunately, it’s a recovery mission [sic],” he said.

By 2:50 a.m. on January 30, an official confirmed that at least 19 bodies had been recovered from the river, which contained three separate debris fields. No survivors had been found.

U.S. President Donald Trump commented on the incident via Truth Social, expressing concern over how the crash unfolded.

“The airplane was on a perfect and routine line of approach to the airport. The helicopter was going straight at the airplane for an extended period of time. It is a CLEAR NIGHT, the lights on the plane were blazing, why didn’t the helicopter go up or down, or turn [sic],” penned Trump.

He continued, “Why didn’t the control tower tell the helicopter what to do instead of asking if they saw the plane. This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented. NOT GOOD [sic]!!!” In a follow-up post, he added, “What a terrible night this has been. God bless you all!”

The investigation into the cause of the collision is ongoing. Authorities will analyze air traffic control communications, flight data, and weather conditions to determine what led to the crash.

The FAA and NTSB have urged anyone with additional footage or information to come forward. Further updates are expected as officials continue to assess the incident and its impact.