Users Respond To The Video Of A Mid-air Collision Near Reagan Airport: “This Is So Strange”
Some internet users have expressed their suspicion that something is wrong after seeing video footage of the Washington plane disaster, leaving them perplexed as to how such a collision could occur.
Videos of the January 29, 2025, collision between a helicopter and an American Airlines aircraft near Reagan Airport in Washington, D.C., have been made public by news organizations. Following the FAA’s notification about the incident, the posters became extensively debated.
The Daily Mail posted a video of the mid-air collision on TikTok, showing the helicopter flying diagonally across from the plane colliding with it as it approached the airport, causing a huge explosion.
The crash showed as a flash of light from the camera’s perspective, followed by rising smoke plumes and the jet and chopper plummeting into the Potomac River.
The Daily Mail’s TikTok picture says, “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].”
First responders are also looking in the Potomac River close to the airport. Many internet users rushed to comment sections after viewing the Daily Mail film to express their thoughts on the incident.
“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 heartbreaking [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.
“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,” the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said, providing context for the incident. PSA was flying for American Airlines as Flight 5342.
Additionally, the organization made it clear that they will be investigating the incident in conjunction with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and will provide the public with the most recent information.
Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas spoke about the tragic jet crash and expressed his sympathies to the victims and their families at a briefing. 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.”
Standing with fellow Senator Jerry Moran, Marshall recognized the tremendous loss experienced by the communities of the victims, especially 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 remarked with sadness.
The senator highlighted the deep pain experienced by individuals who lost loved ones, drawing comparisons to previous tragedies the state has faced.
“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,” Marshall said.
Emphasizing the value of their service, he also paused to honor the lives of the pilots, flight attendants, and military people who were involved in the collision. “All those lives are so valuable, and it is such a tragedy that we lost them,” he said.
News organizations continue to be at the forefront of the inquiry into the mid-air accident, providing real-time updates as new information becomes available. Recent disturbing discoveries in the search efforts, such as the finding of human remains washing ashore along the Virginia side of the Potomac River, were covered by CBS News.
The impact of the crash broke the jet into several parts, which are now submerged in five to eight feet of water, according to Kris Van Cleave, senior transportation and national correspondent for CBS News. One of the aircraft’s two black boxes was found by a dive crew, marking a significant breakthrough.
Officials have not yet verified whether it is the flight data recorder or the cockpit voice recorder, both of which may contain vital information on what caused the terrible collision.
Baggage and other debris have been recovered by divers who have gained access to parts of the aircraft’s interior. The helicopter, meanwhile, seems to be mostly undamaged despite being discovered upside down in the water.
Authorities have established the scope of the current search and rescue operation as emergency efforts continue. About 300 rescuers are actively searching for survivors and recovering remains from the Potomac River, D.C. Fire and EMS Chief John A. Donnelly Sr. said at a press conference at Reagan National Airport.
“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.
Responders encounter several difficulties navigating the murky waters in their urgent efforts due to the conditions, which are described as windy, chilly, and dark.
CNN reports that Reagan National Airport has been temporarily closed in the wake of the sad incident. The airport will stay closed until at least 11 a.m. ET on Thursday (today), according to a statement made by Jack Potter, president and CEO of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. He did, however, guarantee that Washington Dulles International Airport operations will not be impacted.
A witness described what he saw and heard at the scene of the collision in addition to what authorities, groups, and media sources had published about it.
The witness, Abadi Ismail, who was in the Buzzard Point area near James Creek Marina, disclosed, “I have an advantageous view of the Potomac River, the Anacostia River, Reagan Airport, and 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.
Ismail noticed smoke billowing from the airport’s south side as he peered out his window. He had a hard time at first understanding what had transpired. But emergency personnel, including fire engines, the Arlington Police, the D.C. Police, the D.C. Park Police, and the Coast Guard, were on the scene in a matter of minutes.
“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.
Additional information regarding the difficulties encountered at the crash scene surfaced as rescue personnel worked through the night. Ismail pointed out that the 39-degree temperatures made the Potomac River frozen, making rescue operations more difficult. “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 said.
Additionally, he noted that the situation had changed from a search-and-rescue operation to a recovery effort based on his observations and conversations with contacts at D.C. Park.
“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.
At least 19 victims had been found from the river, which had three distinct debris fields, by 2:50 a.m. on January 30, according to an official. There were no survivors.
In a statement posted on Truth Social, US President Donald Trump expressed his concerns about the crash’s trajectory.
“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 cause of the crash is still being investigated. To ascertain what caused the crash, authorities will examine flight data, weather, and air traffic control communications.
Anyone with more footage or information is encouraged to come forward by the FAA and NTSB. As authorities continue to evaluate the incident and its effects, more developments are anticipated.
