A PSA Airlines Canadair CRJ-700 on behalf of American Airlines, registration N709PS performing flight AA-5342 from Wichita,KS to Washington National,DC (USA) with 60 passengers and 4 crew, had been on approach to National’s runway 01 and was asked by tower whether they could land runway 33, which the crew affirmed, the aircraft was subsequently cleared to land on runway 33. The aircraft was on final approach to National’s runway 33 about 0.6nm before the runway threshold when the aircraft collided with a military Sikorsky H-60 helicopter, both aircraft fell into the Potomac River at 21:16L (01:16Z). “Tower, did you see that?” somebody radioed at 01:16:39z. All subsequent approaches were instructed to go around, departures were halted. About 3.5 hours later no survivors have been recovered.
The airport was temporarily closed, subsequently runway 15/33 remained closed.
Tower told aircraft waiting for departures that there had been a collision on finals to runway 33, the airfield was closed and they should return to the apron and shut engines down.
The FAA reported: “A PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet collided in 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. It departed from Wichita, Kansas. The FAA and NTSB will investigate. The NTSB will lead the investigation.”
Source – Aviation Herald
