A tragic accident occurred when American Airlines Flight 5342 collided with a US Army helicopter near Washington, DC, on the evening of January 31. The crash occurred while the plane was approaching Ronald Reagan National Airport, with 60 passengers and four crew members on board. The military chopper carried,
three troops. CCTV footage shows the moment of impact, followed by a fiery explosion as both aircraft plunged into the Potomac River.One passenger, Hamaad Raza, shared the last text his wife sent before the crash: “Landing in 20 minutes.” After that, no further messages were delivered. Rescuers are currently searching the river for survivors, with 300 responders in action. American Airlines has expressed concern for those on board and is coordinating with authorities. President Trump has acknowledged the tragedy and praised first responders.