A stationary camera operated by live camera company EarthCam appeared to capture the moment a passenger jet collided with a U.S. Army helicopter over the Potomac River on Wednesday evening.
The video shows the passenger plane traveling from the right and the helicopter approaching from the left.
A bright light is seen as the aircraft appear to hit each other.
FULL plane/helicopter collide in Washington DC via the Kennedy Center EarthCam. Very strange incident. pic.twitter.com/CtM1JESEaO
— James Pettus (@PettusWX) January 30, 2025
The accident involved American Eagle Flight 5342, operated by PSA Airlines, which was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members. The Sikorsky H-60 Black Hawk was on a training flight with three soldiers aboard.
Officials have recovered over 30 bodies from the water, NBC News reported. "It's a highly complex operation," District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Chief John Donnelly said. "The conditions are extremely rough."
PLANE CRASH IN DC caught via webcam at the Kennedy Center. A Helicopter collided with an American Airlines plane before landing. pic.twitter.com/hLfOnz9mLZ
— James Pettus (@PettusWX) January 30, 2025
CBS News reported that the American Eagle jet was only "a few hundred feet off the ground" when it collided with the Army helicopter. The jet was in the final moments of its approach, and depending on the point of impact, "the pilots may never have seen the helicopter coming."
President Donald Trump said he had been briefed on the crash and thanked first responders for their efforts. "May God bless their souls," he wrote. On Truth Social, he questioned whether the crash could have been prevented, calling the situation "NOT GOOD!!!" Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the Pentagon was monitoring developments and ready to assist if needed.
Originally published in International Business Times
