A small aircraft went down in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport late Wednesday, according to reports. NBC affiliate WBAL confirmed that at least two bodies have been recovered.
U.S. President Donald Trump said he had been briefed on the "terrible accident," which occurred when a passenger plane collided midair with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter before crashing into the river.
A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that three Army soldiers were aboard the helicopter at the time of the collision. Their condition remains unknown, but the official noted that no senior military personnel were on board.
Desperate Search for Survivors After Midair Collision Near Washington, DC
A massive search and rescue operation is underway after a passenger plane and a U.S. Army helicopter collided midair near Reagan National Airport on Wednesday night, sending the aircraft crashing into the freezing waters of the Potomac River.
Emergency crews are scouring the river for survivors, battling near-freezing temperatures. A law enforcement source confirmed fatalities but did not specify the number. American Airlines reported 64 people were aboard the plane, while the Army helicopter carried three soldiers, according to a U.S. defense official.
What We Know About the Crash
The aircraft involved was American Airlines Flight 5342, a Bombardier CRJ700 operated by PSA Airlines, traveling from Wichita, Kansas, to Washington, DC. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the jet was on approach to Reagan National when it collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter.
Flight data indicated the plane was expected to land around 9 p.m., but DC Police began receiving emergency calls at 8:53 p.m. about an aircraft crash over the Potomac.
The Black Hawk, part of the 12th Aviation Battalion based at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, was on a training mission at the time of the collision, officials confirmed. The Army has not disclosed the helicopter’s departure point.
As a result of the crash, all flights at Reagan National Airport have been temporarily suspended.
Who Was on Board?
American Airlines confirmed that Flight 5342 carried 60 passengers and four crew members. The U.S. Army helicopter had a three-person crew but was not transporting any VIPs, a defense official said.
Authorities have yet to release official casualty figures. The Metropolitan Police Department, DC Fire, and DC Police issued a joint statement saying, "No confirmed information on casualties is available at this time."
American Airlines has set up a hotline for the families of those on board.
Ongoing Rescue Efforts
Search and rescue teams from multiple local and federal agencies are racing against time to locate survivors in the frigid Potomac River.
Dive teams are actively searching the crash site, with firefighters conducting underwater operations despite water temperatures hovering around 35 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. Officials warn that such conditions significantly increase the risk of hypothermia and other life-threatening complications.
This incident could mark one of the deadliest U.S. aviation disasters in decades. Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the collision as rescue efforts remain the top priority.
Get it on Google Play
0 Comments