A tragic mid-air collision between a passenger plane and a US Army helicopter has led to a devastating crash in the Potomac River, near Washington D.C. The accident, which occurred on Wednesday evening, has left at least 19 confirmed dead, with rescue operations still underway.
At around 21:00 local time (02:00 GMT), a PSA Airlines flight, operating as American Airlines 5342, collided with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter as it was approaching Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the plane, a Bombardier CRJ700, broke into multiple pieces upon impact and sank several feet into the river. The helicopter, which had been on a training flight, ended up upside down on the water’s surface.
The passenger plane had departed from Wichita, Kansas, and was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members.
Among the known casualties are members of the U.S. figure skating community, including athletes, coaches, and their families who were returning home from a training camp.
Russian authorities have also confirmed that two former world champion ice skating coaches, Yevgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, were aboard the flight.
The three soldiers aboard the US Army helicopter were identified as members of B Company, 12th Aviation Battalion, stationed at Fort Belvoir in Virginia. The Pentagon has confirmed their involvement in the training flight.
Search and rescue teams have been working through the night in freezing temperatures to locate any survivors. More than 300 responders, including divers and personnel on rubber boats, have been deployed to the scene, facing challenging conditions such as wind and ice on the water, making access to the wreckage difficult.
“The challenge is access; there is wind, pieces of ice. It is dangerous and hard to work in,” said Washington D.C. Fire and Emergency Services Chief John Donnelly.
As the investigation continues, law enforcement sources have confirmed that at least 19 bodies have been recovered from the river, though officials are withholding confirmation until the rescue operation concludes.
The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the cause of the crash, which occurred just minutes before the plane was due to land at the nearby airport.
A recording of air traffic control communications, which has been reviewed by CNN, suggests a controller had warned the helicopter about the approaching plane.
However, the response from the helicopter crew was reportedly inaudible, raising further questions about communication before the collision.
The crash has resulted in the temporary closure of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, as authorities focus on the investigation and recovery efforts.
At this time, emergency responders remain hopeful of finding more survivors, although the harsh conditions continue to hinder progress.
The event marks one of the most tragic aviation accidents in the region in recent years, with grief-stricken families and communities mourning the loss of loved ones and colleagues.
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