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A industrial jet with 64 civilians on board collided with an Military helicopter whereas approaching Ronald Reagan Nationwide Airport close to Washington D.C on Wednesday night time, leaving regulation enforcement officers scrambling.
An enormous search-and-rescue operation for survivors, involving a number of companies, was launched within the close by Potomac River, the place the temperature was 42 levels.
The crash occurred round Ronald Reagan Nationwide Airport in Washington D.C. at 8:47 ET on Wednesday night time. An American Airways aircraft inbound from Kansas collided with a U.S. Military Black Hawk helicopter, with footage from close by showing to indicate a fireball following the crash.
Comply with the most recent updates on the aircraft crash in our stay weblog
Eyewitnesses described a visual explosion lighting up the night time sky. “It appeared to me like an enormous Roman candle, sparks taking pictures from the pinnacle of the aircraft all the way down to the tail. I noticed that for about two seconds,” bystander Ari Schulman instructed NBC Washington.
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Air visitors management watched because the passenger jet and helicopter collided earlier than plunging into the river. In audio obtained by CBS Information, a dispatcher mentioned: “The accident occurred within the river. Each the helicopter and the aircraft crashed within the river.”
The airport will stay closed till 11am as helicopters from regulation enforcement companies throughout the area flew over the scene searching for survivors. Inflatable rescue boats have been launched into the Potomac River from some extent close to the airport alongside the George Washington Parkway, simply north of the airport.
Video from an remark digicam on the close by Kennedy Middle reveals two units of lights per separate plane showing to conjoin in a big fireball.
President Donald Trump mentioned he had been “totally briefed on this horrible accident” and, referring to the passengers, added: “Might God Bless their souls.” The president later wrote that the tragedy “ought to have been averted.”
Whereas questions stay, together with how the horrific incident might have occurred within the closely monitored air area so near the Pentagon, right here’s what we all know to date:
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Lots of the victims have been in Kansas to compete within the Nationwide Determine Skating Championships
A gaggle of these on board the American Airways flight have been determine skaters and coaches who have been in Wichita to compete within the Nationwide Determine Skating championships which ran from January 20 and 26. Some stayed on for a convention, in line with Workforce USA skater Luke Wang.
Two of the folks on board the American Airways flight have been named as Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova, they have been the 1994 World Determine Skating Championship pairs winners.
Russian information companies have mentioned that there have been a number of passengers on board who have been Russian immigrants or the youngsters of emigre.
TASS named one other sufferer as legendary Soviet Union determine skater Inna Volyanskaya.
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The Federal Aviation Administration later confirmed {that a} industrial flight had collided with a helicopter, later revealed to be a Black Hawk helicopter piloted by the Military.
Round 11.40 p.m., a regulation enforcement officer instructed CNN there had some confirmed fatalities however that rescuers had not but pulled any survivors from the water.
Who was onboard the American Airways flight?
Some 60 passengers and 4 crew members have been aboard the passenger aircraft, operated by American Airways.
In response to the airline, American Eagle Flight 5342 had been en route from Wichita, Kansas, to Washington, D.C. when the collision occurred.
“Our concern is for the passengers and crew on board the plane. We’re involved with authorities and aiding with emergency response efforts,” American Airways mentioned in an announcement.
Fearful relations gathered close to the positioning ready for details about their family members. Hamaad Raza, whose spouse was on board, mentioned she had texted him 20 minutes earlier than the incident telling him they have been about to land.
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When his responses stopped being delivered, “That is after I knew one thing may very well be up,” he instructed CNN.
The Affiliation of Flight Attendants, which represents cabin crews at PSA Airways, mentioned in an announcement that there have been two flight attendants on board the aircraft.
“Whereas we mobilize to help the households and crews straight affected by this incident, we’re additionally sending power to all first responders doing every little thing they’ll to deliver survivors to security,” union president Sara Nelson mentioned.
Who was on the Black Hawk army helicopter?
Three U.S. Military troopers have been onboard the Black Hawk helicopter concerned within the collision, a U.S. official confirmed on Wednesday.
The official, talking on the situation of anonymity, mentioned the standing of the troopers was unknown, however added that no senior officers have been on the helicopter.
One other official mentioned the Military UH-60 helicopter concerned within the crash was based mostly out of Fort Belvoir, Virginia. It was later confirmed that the plane and its crew have been on a coaching flight.
What has President Donald Trump mentioned in regards to the incident?
President Donald Trump responded to the crash by official channels earlier than taking to Reality Social to query “why didn’t the helicopter go up or down”.
In an announcement launched by way of White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt, Trump mentioned: “I’ve been totally briefed on the horrible accident which simply passed off at Reagan Nationwide Airport. Might God Bless their souls. Thanks for the unimaginable work being finished by our first responders.”
Afterward Reality Social, Trump mentioned: “The airplane was on an ideal and routine line of strategy to the airport. The helicopter was going straight on the airplane for an prolonged time period.
“It’s a CLEAR NIGHT, the lights on the aircraft have been blazing, why didn’t the helicopter go up or down, or flip. Why didn’t the management tower inform the helicopter what to do as an alternative of asking in the event that they noticed the aircraft.
“It is a dangerous state of affairs that appears prefer it ought to have been prevented. NOT GOOD!!!”
Transport secretary Sean Duffy – who was confirmed simply two days in the past – mentioned he was onsite on the FAA HQ to observe the state of affairs.
In a publish on X, Vice President JD Vance urged folks to “say a prayer for everybody concerned within the mid-air collision close to Reagan airport this night. We’re monitoring the state of affairs, however for now let’s hope for one of the best,” he mentioned.
In the meantime, newly confirmed Homeland Safety Secretary Kristi Noem mentioned in an announcement on social media that the division was “deploying each accessible U.S. Coast Guard useful resource for search and rescue efforts.”
She added: “We’re actively monitoring the state of affairs & stand able to help native responders.” Noem expressed her concern and prayers for the victims and first responders.
Virginia consultant Don Beyer added: “I’m following the response to a reported aviation incident at DCA, and am in contact with airport officers as we attempt to be taught extra about what occurred and why. That is clearly very worrying, however I urge the neighborhood to please let first responders do their jobs and save lives.”
