A passenger plane and a military helicopter collided near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington, DC, resulting in a major search-and-rescue operation. At least 18 bodies have been recovered. The FAA and the military are investigating the cause of the collision.
A passenger aircraft carrying 60 passengers and four crew members collided with a Black Hawk helicopter on Wednesday night in Washington, DC, American Airlines confirmed. The crash occurred near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, sending debris into the Potomac River . At least 18 bodies have been recovered, according to CBS News , citing a police official. Approximately 300 emergency responders are actively searching the waters for survivors.
The aircraft involved was a Mitsubishi CRJ-700 jet, operated by subsidiary PSA Airlines, which typically seats 65 people and is commonly used for shorter trips. The helicopter was a Sikorsky H-60 Black Hawk, and authorities say it was on a training mission along the Potomac River. The incident has prompted a major search-and-rescue operation and halted all aircraft take-offs and landings at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser stated early Thursday that the wrecked fuselages of both the US military helicopter and the commercial jet are visible in the water. Divers have entered the helicopter wreckage, with reports from NBC News indicating the challenging conditions due to strong winds and cold temperatures. John Donnelly, chief of Washington DC fire and emergency medical services, described the operational difficulties, citing wind, ice, and the hazardous nature of the environment. The news of the tragedy has sent shockwaves across the nation, with many remembering a similar air disaster in January 1982 when an Air Florida Boeing 737 crashed into the Potomac River after taking off with ice in its engines and on its wings. That accident resulted in the deaths of 74 people onboard and four on the ground. This latest incident has prompted an investigation by the military into the cause of the mid-air collision. The Army has confirmed that three aircrew members were onboard the Black Hawk helicopter, which was engaging in a routine training mission along the Potomac River, an area known for frequent military helicopter flights in close proximity to planes taking off and landing at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Russian state-run Tass news agency reported that former world champion Russian figure skaters Yevgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, who were married, were passengers on the plane. They won the world championship in pairs figure skating in 1994.
AIR CRASH COLLISION HELICOPTER MILITARY WASHINGTON DC RONALD REAGAN WASHINGTON NATIONAL AIRPORT Potomac River SEARCH AND RESCUE
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