Washington D.C. authorities have confirmed that 67 people have died in a tragic plane crash that occurred Wednesday night when an American Airlines aircraft collided with a military helicopter near Reagan National Airport. Of the deceased, 27 bodies were recovered from the plane and one from the helicopter.
American Airlines Flight 5342, operated by PSA Airlines, had departed from Wichita, Kansas, and crashed into a UH-60 Black Hawk military helicopter near Ronald Reagan National Airport. The collision occurred around 9 p.m., causing an explosion that scattered debris over the Potomac River.
The accident occurred as the plane, carrying 60 passengers and 4 crew members, was preparing to land.
Among the passengers were several members of the U.S. figure skating community, including coaches, parents, and skaters returning from a national event in Wichita, Kansas.
The helicopter involved was a Sikorsky H-60 Black Hawk from the U.S. Army, which was conducting training exercises. Authorities have stated they do not expect to find survivors, shifting rescue operations to a recovery mission.
The collision occurred approximately half a mile from the runway, resulting in an explosion visible from the ground before both aircraft fell into the Potomac River. Search and recovery efforts have been complicated by freezing temperatures in the area, which have left the water extremely cold.
More than 300 emergency responders worked through the night in the frigid waters of the Potomac River. So far, 28 bodies have been recovered: 27 were passengers from the plane, and one was a crew member from the helicopter.
Ronald Reagan National Airport resumed operations at 11:00 a.m. local time on Thursday. Authorities have assured that all necessary measures have been taken to ensure passenger safety.
This is the worst commercial air disaster in the United States since 2013. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the causes of the crash.
U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed concern about the incident, suggesting the crash “should have been avoided” and questioning the performance of air traffic control at the airport.
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