An American Airlines regional passenger jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter collided in midair near Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday night, resulting in both aircraft crashing into the frigid Potomac River, according to officials.
According to a police official, CBS News reported that at least 18 bodies have been recovered so far. Multiple bodies have also been pulled from the water, as confirmed by two sources to Reuters.
American Airlines has confirmed that there were a total of 64 individuals on the jet. This includes 60 passengers and four crew members. Additionally, it has been reported that three soldiers were also on board the helicopter.
Relatives who had gathered at the airport expressed their frustration over the lack of information provided by officials regarding the incident. They mentioned that they were relying more on news reports to stay updated about the situation.
A distressed woman approached an airport official, expressing uncertainty about whether a particular passenger had boarded the ill-fated aircraft. Overwhelmed by emotions, she subsequently crumbled into tears.
Hamaad Raza shared with local CBS affiliate WUSA that he found himself at Reagan airport, patiently waiting for his wife’s arrival.
“She sent me a text saying that she would be landing in 20 minutes,” he recalled. “However, I didn’t receive any of her subsequent messages. It was at that moment when I started to suspect that something might be wrong. I can only hope that someone is rescuing her from the river as we speak.”
The U.S. Army has officially confirmed that the helicopter involved in last night’s incident was an Army UH-60 helicopter from Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
In recent years, although there hasn’t been a fatal U.S. passenger airplane accident since February 2009, a number of near-miss incidents have sparked significant safety concerns.
In 1982, a tragic incident occurred when Air Florida Flight 90 collided with the 14th Street Bridge over the Potomac River, resulting in the devastating loss of 70 passengers and four crew members. Miraculously, only four passengers and one crew member managed to survive this catastrophic event.
At approximately 8:47 p.m. (0147 GMT), a web camera captured a stunning sight from the Kennedy Center in Washington: an aircraft engulfed in flames, plummeting rapidly across the Potomac River.
According to the FAA, Flight 5342 for American Airlines, which had departed from Wichita, Kansas, was being operated by PSA.
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom expressed his commitment to cooperating with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) during their investigation. In a video statement, Isom assured that the airline would continue to provide all the necessary information to assist in the ongoing investigation.
Multiple agencies participated in a search and rescue operation in the Potomac River, which borders the airport, according to police.
Dozens of police, ambulance, and rescue units swiftly assembled along the riverbank, their vehicles equipped with boats ready for action. The tarmac of Reagan airport became a hive of activity as they raced to their designated positions. As the situation unfolded, live TV coverage captured the sight of multiple boats navigating the water, their blue and red lights illuminating the scene.
Late on Wednesday, the airport announced that emergency personnel were responding to an aircraft incident, leading to the suspension of all takeoffs and landings.
U.S. President Donald Trump stated that he has been fully briefed on the unfortunate incident that recently occurred at Reagan National Airport.
He expressed his gratitude for the remarkable efforts of our first responders, adding, “May God bless their souls.” He assured everyone that he is closely monitoring the situation and will share further information as it becomes available.
FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker resigned on January 20, and the Trump administration has yet to appoint a successor or reveal who is currently leading the agency on an interim basis.
The most recent fatal incident involving a commercial airliner in the United States occurred in 2009. It was a tragic event where all 49 individuals on board a Colgan Air flight lost their lives in a plane crash in New York state. Additionally, one person on the ground also perished in the accident.