WASHINGTON – On Wednesday night, an American Airlines regional passenger jet and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter collided in midair near Reagan Washington National Airport and crashed into the Potomac River.
According to the Washington Post, multiple bodies were recovered from the water. The newspaper reported that no survivors had been found so far. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas stated on social media that “we know there are fatalities,” but did not specify how many.
American Airlines confirmed that the jet was carrying 64 people, including 60 passengers and four crew members. The helicopter carried three soldiers, according to a US official.
Some passengers’ friends, family, and relatives gathered at Reagan Washington National Airport to find out more information.
One woman told an airport official, “I do not know if she got on there or not,” presumably referring to a passenger on the crashed jet. She then broke down in tears.
The US Army said in a statement that it could “confirm that the aircraft involved in tonight’s incident was an Army UH-60 helicopter based in Fort Belvoir, Virginia.” We are working with local officials and will provide more information as it becomes available.”
There has not been a fatal passenger plane accident in the United States since February 2009, but a string of near-misses in recent years has sparked serious safety concerns.
A webcam shot from the Kennedy Center in Washington captured an explosion mid-air across the Potomac at 9:47 p.m. (0247 GMT), with an aircraft in flames falling rapidly.
According to the US Federal Aviation Administration, a PSA Airlines CRJ700 regional jet collided with the helicopter in midair as it approached Reagan.
According to the FAA, PSA was operating American Airlines Flight 5342, which had departed from Wichita, Kansas.
Police said multiple agencies were involved in a search and rescue operation in the Potomac River, which runs alongside the airport.
Dozens of police, ambulance, and rescue units, as well as some ferry boats, were staged along the river and raced to positions on Reagan Airport’s tarmac. Several boats in the water were seen flashing blue and red lights on live TV.
The airport announced late Wednesday that all takeoffs and landings had been halted while emergency crews responded to an aircraft incident.
In a statement, US President Donald Trump stated that he had been “fully briefed on the terrible accident which just took place at Reagan National Airport.”
“May God bless their souls,” he said. “Thank you for the incredible work done by our first responders.” I am keeping an eye on the situation and will update you as new information becomes available.”
The National Transportation Safety Board said it was gathering additional information about the incident.
American Airlines announced on social media that it was “aware of reports that American Eagle flight 5342, operated by PSA, with service from Wichita, Kansas (ICT) to Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA), has been involved in an incident.”
American Airlines stated that it would provide additional information as it became available to it.
Over the last two years, a series of near-miss incidents have raised concerns about aviation safety in the United States, as well as the strain on understaffed air traffic control operations.
FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker resigned on January 20, and the Trump administration has yet to name a replacement, or even reveal who is running the agency on an interim basis.
The last deadly major crash involving a commercial airliner in the United States occurred in 2009, when all 49 people on board a Colgan Air flight died when the plane crashed in New York. One person also died on the ground.
