A regional jet crashed into a military helicopter near Reagan Airport, causing multiple casualties and a major rescue operation.
Washington DC: A regional jet crashed into a military helicopter. The jet was coming from Wichita, Kansas, with 60 passengers and four crew members. The helicopter had three soldiers on board.
So far, rescuers have recovered 19 bodies. They continue searching the river in freezing temperatures. The Potomac River is about eight feet deep where the crash happened.
All flights at Ronald Reagan National Airport were halted. Law enforcement helicopters flew over the scene looking for survivors. About 300 responders are currently working on the rescue operation.
The Federal Aviation Administration said the collision occurred around 9 PM local time. The jet crashed into a Black Hawk helicopter while approaching the airport runway.
Audio from air traffic control shows a controller asking the helicopter if it saw the jet. Moments later, another pilot reported seeing the collision.
American Airlines acknowledged reports of one of its flights being involved. They promised to provide more information soon.
In a social media post, President Trump thanked first responders for their incredible work. He is monitoring the situation and will share updates as they come.
Washington Fire and EMS chief John A. Donnelly said they don’t know if there are any survivors yet, but they are working hard to find out.
The FAA announced that the airport would remain closed until at least 5 AM on Friday.
