UPDATED JANUARY 29, 2025, 11:58 PM EST:

Townhall's Katie Pavlich reports that according to the police scanner, 19 bodies have been pulled from the Potomac River at this time. There were 64 souls aboard the American Airlines flight and three aboard the Army helicopter.

11:48 pm police scanner on DCA crash confirms 19 bodies pulled from the water. No survivors yet. There were 64 people onboard the American Airlines flight and three onboard the Army Black Hawk helicopter. It’s been hours since the crash and the river is covered in ice.

— Katie Pavlich (@KatiePavlich) January 30, 2025

UPDATED JANUARY 29, 2025, 11:36 PM EST:

Fox News Digital reports that the helicopter involved in the collision was based at Fort Belvoir, south of Washington, D.C., and was on a training flight, sharing a statement from an Army spokesperson:

"We can confirm that the aircraft involved in tonight’s incident was an Army UH-60 helicopter from Bravo Company, 12th Aviation Battalion, out of Davison Army Airfield, Fort Belvoir during a training flight. We are working with local officials and will provide additional information once it becomes available."

UPDATED JANUARY 29, 2025, 11:12 PM EST:

American Airlines has confirmed that there were 60 passengers and four crew members aboard Flight 5342, and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is at the scene.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth made a brief statement on X saying, "DoD actively monitoring. Poised to assist if needed. Prayers for all involved."

Audio from Air Traffic Control at Reagan National Airport and PAT25 has been published.

LISTEN: Audio between PAT-25 and the Reagan ATC.

The controller asks PAT25 if he sees the CRJ (plane). PAT25 confirms, and requests "Visual Separation". That means that he is affirming seeing the plane, and will himself work to avoid it. https://t.co/MaMau8E47H pic.twitter.com/Pq565rRWLy

— FUNKER530 (@FunkerActual) January 30, 2025

Helo Route 4 thru the DCA airspace is "Maintain 200' or Below" north of the Wilson Bridge where this occurred. Flight data seems to show it occurred at 350' ... 🙏 pic.twitter.com/eC2IWaQ7en

— SuspiciousObserver#117 (@URtheirProduct) January 30, 2025

President Trump, Other Admin Officials Respond to Fatal Air Crash Over Potomac

ORIGINAL POST

According to multiple reports out of the nation's capital, a commercial plane and a helicopter collided in mid-air at the Kennedy Center on Wednesday night.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News that "President Trump has been made aware of this situation and tragically it appears that a military helicopter collided with a regional jet."

Initial reports from the airport indicate that the jet was carrying 60 passengers, and a casualty staging area has been established. 

Police scanner says they are setting up a “casualty collection area” after an incident at DCA airport.

— Katie Pavlich (@KatiePavlich) January 30, 2025

"All takeoffs and landings have been halted at DCA," the airport said in a statement on X. "Emergency personnel are responding to an aircraft incident on the airfield. The terminal remains open."

Multiple agencies are responding to the incident, which took place over the Potomac, and officials are saying fireboats are on the scene. 

Senator Jerry Moran of Kansas posted a statement on X, saying he was made aware of a flight from Wichita, Kansas that crashed.

"Learning that a plane inbound from Kansas was involved in a crash at DCA," his statement read. "I am in contact with authorities. Please join me in praying for all involved."

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the incident, as well.

"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," the statement read. "PSA was operating as Flight 5342 for American Airlines. It departed from Wichita, Kansas."

The agency also noted that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will take the lead in investigating what happened.

"The FAA and NTSB will investigate," it continued. "The NTSB will lead the investigation. We will provide updates as information comes in."

There is also video circulating of the event, as well as the emergency response efforts.

VIDEO from the Kennedy Center in Washington DC caught the crash in mid-air. So far at least six reported casualties. pic.twitter.com/XdJiAn3l4Q

— DMV News Live (@DCNewsLive) January 30, 2025

🚨 Video of the response to the DC aircraft crash into the Potomac River in Washington DC, (near Reagan National Airport) which has reportedly left at least three people dead. 🚨 pic.twitter.com/szpE6JcSXP

— DMV News Live (@DCNewsLive) January 30, 2025

This is a developing story. We will update this article as more information becomes available. RedState remains committed to providing updated news and opinion that matters to our audience. You can also get updated news by downloading the THM News app.