No Survivors In Mid-Air Collision Involving Passenger Jet, Black Hawk Helicopter
UPDATE: Officials are confirming that there are no survivors after an American Airlines regional jet and an Army Blackhawk helicopter collided in mid-air near Reagan National Airport last night.
The plane was carrying 60 passengers and four crewmembers en route from Wichita, Kansas. Three soldiers on a training mission were aboard the helicopter.
WASHINGTON — An American Airlines passenger plane collided midair with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter Wednesday Night near Reagan National Airport (January 29th).
The crash, which occurred just moments before the plane was due to land at Reagan National Airport, sent both aircraft hurtling into the icy waters of the Potomac River.
Flight 5342, a Bombardier CRJ700 carrying 60 passengers and four crew members from Wichita, Kansas, was minutes away from completing its descent when disaster struck.
Witnesses near the river described hearing a sickening metallic thud followed by an explosion that lit up the horizon.
Grainy video footage from nearby webcams captured the catastrophic convergence, freezing the moment tragedy unfolded.
Military Helicopter Collides With Passenger Plane, Crashed Into Potamoc River Near Reagan National Airport
Washington, D.C. – An American Airlines passenger plane collided midair with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter Wednesday Night near Reagan National Airport (January 29th).
The crash, which occurred just moments before the plane was due to land at Reagan National Airport, sent both aircraft hurtling into the icy waters of the Potomac River.
Flight 5342, a Bombardier CRJ700 carrying 60 passengers and four crew members from Wichita, Kansas, was minutes away from completing its descent when disaster struck.
Witnesses near the river described hearing a sickening metallic thud followed by an explosion that lit up the horizon.
Grainy video footage from nearby webcams captured the catastrophic convergence, freezing the moment tragedy unfolded.
The crash came just weeks after the 43rd anniversary of an Air Florida flight going down into the Potomac due to bad weather, killing 78 people on Jan. 13, 1982.
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News’ Sean Hannity:
“I have called over to my counterparts at the White House, and I can confirm that President Trump has been made aware of this situation.”
Emergency responders flooded the area as a desperate search-and-rescue operation commenced.
Fireboats tore through the freezing waters, their searchlights skimming the surface for survivors amidst debris and darkness.
The chilling 35-degree will make recovery efforts perilous, with every moment of delay spelling danger for those trapped.
The midair collision obliterated the serene rhythm of the nation’s capital, as flights were grounded at Reagan National Airport and agencies mobilized to assess the full scope of the tragedy.
What caused the Black Hawk helicopter and the jet to collide remains under investigation by the FAA and National Transportation Safety Board.
Initial reports indicated no signs of criminal intent or terrorism, offering some relief but no answers to grieving loved ones.
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