During Wednesday evening's arrival at Reagan Washington National Airport, a small plane operated by American Airlines struck a helicopter in midair. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the regional plane, which had taken off from Wichita, Kansas, collided with the military Blackhawk helicopter as it approached the airport runway at approximately 9 p.m. ET.
According to CBS News, American Airlines flight 5342 carried 60 passengers and four crew members. According to a CBS official, the Black Hawk Sikorsky H-60 carried three US Army soldiers. Data from the flight's radio transponder showed that it rapidly lost altitude over the Potomac River.
The DC fire department, law enforcement, and the US Coast Guard are all participating in a search and rescue effort for crash survivors near the Potomac River. According to unconfirmed sources cited by The Washington Post, police have begun removing many remains from the river.
"I have been fully briefed on the tragic catastrophe which just took place at Reagan National Airport," said US President Donald Trump in a statement. May their spirits be blessed by God. We appreciate the amazing work that our first responders are doing. I am keeping an eye on things and will update you as new information becomes available.
This incident marks the first fatal U.S. passenger plane accident since 2009, raising concerns about aviation safety amidst recent near-miss incidents. The aviation community and regulatory authorities are expected to conduct thorough reviews to prevent such tragedies in the future.
