PSA Flight 5342: Aviation Safety is Our Guiding Principle

On Jan. 29, 2025, PSA Airlines Flight 5342 (CRJ700) collided in midair with a U.S. Army Aviation PAT 25 (Sikorsky UH-60L) while on approach to Runway 33 at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

All 67 passengers and crew on board the two aircraft lost their lives in the collision, including Captain Jonathan J. Campos and Honorary Captain Sam Lilley, who were operating PSA Flight 5342.

During a hearing this week, National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy said “deep, underlying systemic failures — system flaws — aligned to create the conditions that led to the devastating tragedy.” The NTSB previously disclosed that there had been 15,200 air separation incidents near DCA between commercial aircraft and helicopters since 2023, including 85 “close call” events. Chair Homendy also had this to say about the midair collision: “This was 100 percent preventable.”

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy announced last week that the Federal Aviation Administration is formalizing permanent restrictions for helicopters and powered-lift from operating near DCA. The restrictions were put in place immediately following last January's accident.

APA extends its deepest sympathies to all concerned and affirms its commitment to preserving and enhancing aviation safety as our union's guiding principle.