Maps show flight path, collision site of DC plane crash

The flight path of American Airlines Flight #5342 from Wichita, Kansas (ICT), to Washington, D.C. (DCA), on Jan. 29, 2025. (Photo: FOX Weather)

An American Airlines passenger jet carrying 60 passengers and four crew members collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter while approaching the Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington, D.C., leaving everyone on board feared dead

The collision was reported just before 9 p.m. ET on Wednesday. The aircraft involved plummeted into the icy Potomac River, triggering a major search operation. 

Dozens of bodies were recovered from the waters in the hours following the midair collision, officials said. The passenger plane's fuselage was found upside down and broken into three sections in waist-deep water. The wreckage of the helicopter was also located. 

PHOTOS: Daylight reveals first look at DCA plane crash

Map shows flight path of American Airlines 5342

What we know:

The regional jet involved departed from Wichita, Kansas, (ICT) at 5:22 p.m. CT. The midair crash happened at about 8:48 p.m. ET, just before the plane was set to land at DCA, when the plane collided with a military helicopter on a training exercise, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

The collision involving American Airlines flight #5342 and a U.S. Army black hawk helicopter occurred at 8:48 p.m. ET. (Credit: FOX Weather)

Map shows DC plane crash impact site

The site of the collision between the passenger jet and a military helicopter is pictured over the Potomac River, as well as the location of Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA). (Photo: FOX Weather)

What we know:

A few minutes before the regional jet was to set to land, air traffic controllers asked American Airlines Flight 5342 if it could land on a shorter runway, and the pilots agreed. Controllers cleared the jet to land and flight tracking sites showed the plane adjusting its approach to the new runway.

Plane crash map

Less than 30 seconds before the crash, an air traffic controller asked a helicopter if it had the arriving plane in sight. The controller made another radio call to the helicopter moments later: "PAT 25 pass behind the CRJ." There was no reply. Seconds after that, the two aircraft collided.

The plane’s radio transponder stopped transmitting about 2,400 feet short of the runway, roughly over the middle of the Potomac.

The Source: This story was reported using information from the Federal Aviation Administration, government officials, and FlightAware.com. The Associated Press contributed.

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