What are the aircraft involved in the deadly Washington DC crash? What to know

A regional jetliner landing at Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., collided with a military Black Hawk helicopter before both plunged into the Potomac River.

No survivors are expected from the crash Wednesday, Jan. 29, of the American Airlines plane carrying 64 people and the helicopter carrying three U.S. soldiers, CNN reported.

It is the deadliest U.S. air crash since 2001.

Here’s what to know about the aircraft involved in the collision.

What’s a CRJ-700?

Flight 5342, a Bombardier CRJ-700 regional jetliner operated by PSA Airlines, a subsidiary of American Airlines, was bound from Wichita to Washington, D.C., Reuters reported.

The plane had 60 passengers, including a number of figure skaters, and four crew members on board.

CRJ-700 jetliners were developed by Bombardier Aviation, based in Quebec, as part of the Canadair Regional Jet program begun in 1989. The CRJ-700 model debuted in 1997.

The 106-foot-long jetliner can hold up to 78 passengers, depending on the seat configuration, according to a brochure from the company. It has a range of up to 1,400 nautical miles.

The CRJ-700 has a strong safety record, Fortune reported.

What’s a Black Hawk helicopter?

The UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter in the crash was on a training flight with three U.S. Army soldiers aboard, Aviation Week reported.

It belonged to B Company, 12th Aviation Battalion out of Fort Belvoir in Virginia, CBS News reported.

Manufactured by Sikorsky Aircraft, based in Connecticut, the Black Hawk is the Army’s “primary medium-lift utility transport and air assault aircraft,” according to Military.com.

The helicopter carries up to 11 troops equipped for combat and a crew of four. While it has no built-in weapons, it can be outfitted with machine guns and missiles.

The UH-60L is an upgrade of the UH-60A Black Hawk, which entered service in 1978, Military.com said.

This story was originally published January 30, 2025 at 10:47 AM with the headline "What are the aircraft involved in the deadly Washington DC crash? What to know."