A shocking midair collision between an American Airlines regional jet and a military Blackhawk helicopter occurred on Wednesday night near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, resulting in fatalities and prompting immediate suspensions of all take-offs and landings.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the accident happened around 9 PM ET as the regional jet, which had taken off from Wichita, Kansas, approached the airport for landing. The jet reportedly smashed into the Blackhawk helicopter in midair, leading to a severe emergency response at the scene.

Emergency responders were quickly dispatched south of the airport to assess the damage and aid survivors. Images from the scene showed a heavy security and rescue presence, with aircraft operations brought to a halt.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that President Donald Trump was briefed on the situation, while Pentagon officials, including Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, announced that they were actively monitoring developments. US Senator Ted Cruz later confirmed fatalities but did not disclose the number of victims.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has begun an investigation into the collision, while American Airlines has stated that they are gathering details and will release further updates soon.