Washington, DC: A shocking midair collision occurred late Wednesday (January 30) near Washington, DC, involving an American Airlines passenger jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter carrying 64 people collided while landing at a Washington airport. The incident happened as the plane was preparing to land at Ronald Reagan National Airport.
An American Airlines plane
The Black Hawk helicopter, operated by the US Army, had a crew of 3 on board but was not carrying any VIPs, according to CNN. These helicopters are often used to transport senior Army officials around the Washington area.
Both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and American Airlines have confirmed the crash. As a result, all flights at the airport—both departures and arrivals, have been suspended, as reported by the Associated Press.
There is still no official confirmation of casualties. However, Senator Ted Cruz mentioned on social media that fatalities have been reported, though he did not specify the number.
What We Know So Far
According to the FAA, the aircraft involved was a PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700, operating as American Airlines Flight 5342. The plane had taken off from Wichita, Kansas, and was approaching Reagan National Airport around 9 p.m. local time when it collided with the Black Hawk.
Officials told AFP that after the impact, the regional jet crashed into the Potomac River, prompting a massive emergency response. As a precaution, all flights at Reagan National were immediately grounded.
American Airlines in its statement said: We are aware of reports that American Eagle flight 5342, operated by Pacific Southwest Airlines, has been involved in an incident.
The White House Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News that President Donald Trump has been informed about the situation. She stated that early reports indicate a military helicopter was involved in the crash with the commercial jet.
A U.S. Senator confirmed that the passenger jet had about 60 people on board at the time of the accident. Meanwhile, the U.S. Army said that three soldiers were aboard the Black Hawk when the collision occurred.
Investigation Underway
The FAA has launched an investigation into the cause of the collision. Meanwhile, Washington, D.C, police said on social media that multiple agencies are conducting a search-and-rescue operation in the Potomac River.
American Airlines urged to give more updates as more details become available. The airport’s emergency teams are actively responding to the incident.
Lookback Past Similar Incident:
The last deadly crash of a U.S. commercial airline happened in 2009 near Buffalo, New York. A Bombardier DHC-8 propeller plane went down, killing all 49 people on board, i.e. 45 passengers, two pilots, and two flight attendants. Tragically, one person on the ground also lost their life, bringing the total number of victims to 50.