.png?w=1920&resize=1920,0&ssl=1 "American Airlines flight collides with helicopter in Washington DC")
 An American Airlines flight crashed into a helicopter as it approached Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington DC, officials said, bringing it down into the Potomac River, where search and rescue boats were deployed to the area.
The Federal Aviation Administration said the Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet – which can carry up to 78 passengers – collided with the helicopter as it approached the runway at around 21:00 EST (02:00 GMT) on Wednesday.
According to the officials, the aircraft was American Airlines Flight 5342 coming from Wichita, Kansas.
READ MORE:Â What was the worst plane crash in the US?
Emergency responders responded to the crash, which grounded takeoffs and landings at the airport, according to a post by the airport on X.
The Federal Aviation Administration said it was conducting an investigation into the crash.
The Metropolitan Police Department said a search and rescue operation was underway in the Potomac River with the help of multiple agencies.
Local police said that the helicopter involved in the crash did not belong to the police department.
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One of the worst crashes of an airline in Washington, D.C. was on January 13th in 1982 when Air Florida Flight 90 crashed into the 14th Street Bridge just a few minutes after departing from Washington National Airport now known as Reagan National Airport. The aircraft was a Boeing 737 model with ice forming on wings and this proved to be extremely handicapping to its ability to create lift.Â
The plane could not gain enough altitude even just seconds after liftoff, clipped the bridge, took several vehicles with it, and plunged into the icy Potomac River. Sadly, 78 people lost their lives, including passengers, crew members, and motorists on the bridge. But amidst this tragedy, one of the most incredible acts of heroism was displayed when passersby and a rescue team braved the freezing waters to save survivors. One man, Arland D. Williams Jr., kept passing the rescue rope to others until he succumbed to the cold, making the ultimate sacrifice. Today, a bridge in D.C. is named in his honor to remember his selflessness. I actually have a personal connection to this story—well, sort of.
A few years ago, I was stuck in D.C. during a snowstorm, and as I sat in a café near the Potomac, an older gentleman started talking to me about that tragic day in 1982. He told me that his father had been one of the rescuers who jumped into the freezing river to help. He spoke about how his dad never considered himself a hero—just someone who did what was right. It was as if hearing it first-hand made the whole event feel even more real. History can be quite far away until you meet someone who lived through it!
What happened to American Airlines 625?Â
American Airlines Flight 625 was a flight from JFK Airport in New York to St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, but it had to make a stopover in Puerto Rico. The Boeing 727 was trying to land at Cyril E. King Airport in St.Â
Thomas on April 27, 1976, and things went utterly wrong. It landed too far down the short runway because of the pilots’ miscalculations. Though the pilots tried hard to stop the plane, the aircraft overran the runway and smashed through the fence, crashed down the embankment, and broke up. 37 out of 88 people who were on the flight lost their lives.Â
Subsequent investigation indicated that the auto brakes relied upon by the pilots had reduced braking power application from the time of the event. It was a terrible crash, which also illustrated the challenges of landing in some airports that are characterized by relatively short runways, particularly in the Caribbean.
I personally experienced a rather surreal moment with this crash a few years ago when I was traveling to St. Thomas. When we were about to land, the pilot explained over the intercom that it was tricky because of the short runway and the hills that surrounded the place. I remembered that immediately by thinking of Flight 625 and the tension one gets when taking off. Landing safely, however,
 I then met a local taxi driver with whom I shared a conversation; he says that people around St. Thomas do remember this particular crash; particularly those around when they were little kids. This is enough chilling reminder as to how a well-aware pilot can be effective in braking, thus landing correctly at challenging airports.
How many accidents has American Airlines had?Â
American Airlines is one of the oldest, largest airlines in the world. Like most major carriers, it has had its share of accidents over many years. According to aviation records, American Airlines has had more than 60 incidents and accidents since its inception in 1926. However, only a portion of those were major crashes involving fatalities.
 Some of the most serious accidents include American Airlines Flight 191 in 1979, which is the deadliest aviation accident in U.S. history; Flight 587 in 2001, which crashed in Queens, New York, shortly after 9/11; and Flight 1420 in 1999, which overran the runway in Little Rock, Arkansas. While those accidents were tragic, the recent past of commercial air travel has been much safer because of technological improvements, stricter regulations, and better pilot training.
I had an interesting conversation with a retired American Airlines pilot once in one of the airport lounges waiting. He said that with the history of accidents, flying today is safer than ever due to what was learned from the incidents. He even quipped that pilots now have so many checklists for safety that sometimes they feel like they areÂ
“flying a checklist instead of a plane!” It was reassuring to hear that every past accident led to better safety measures, which made air travel one of the safest ways to get around. So, while American Airlines has had its share of accidents, it remains one of the most trusted airlines in the world today.
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