Washington DC plane crash – latest: All 67 feared dead after American Airlines jet collides with army helicopter
Search and rescue mission underway after both aircraft come down in Potomac River, as Trump is briefed on the ‘terrible accident’
Josh Marcus,Maroosha Muzaffar,James Liddell
An American Airlines regional jet carrying 64 people collided mid-air with an Army Black Hawk helicopter on Wednesday evening before both aircraft crashed down into the Potomac River.
All 67 people on board both aircraft are feared dead, Kansas Senator Roger Marshall said Wednesday night. None of the helicopter’s three crew were senior Army officials, authorities said. At least 18 bodies have been recovered from the water, according to CBS News.
All flights in and out of Washington, D.C.’s Ronald Reagan National Airport have been paused until at least 11 a.m. Thursday. Video footage from the nearby Kennedy Center shows two sets of lights consistent with separate aircraft appearing to conjoin in a fireball.
"I have been fully briefed on the terrible accident which just took place at Reagan National Airport,” President Donald Trump said. “May God Bless their souls.”
American Airlines said in a statement: “If you believe you may have loved ones on board Flight 5342, call American Airlines toll-free at 800-679-8215. Those calling from outside the U.S. can visit news.aa.com for additional phone numbers. Family members in Canada, Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands can call 800-679-8215 directly.”
Floating ice, chilly waters and darkness: Challenges of the rescue operation
As a fleet of divers comb the Potomac River in search of survivors, Washington Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly revealed the challenges that they face.
“The challenges are access. The water that we’re operating in is about 8 feet deep,” Washington Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly said. “There is wind, there is pieces of ice out there. So it’s just dangerous and hard to work in.”
He continued: “And because there’s not a lot of lights, you’re out there searching every square inch of space to see if you can find anybody.
“Divers are doing the same thing in the water. The water is dark, it is murky, and that is a very tough condition for them to dive in.”
James Liddell
Russian figure skaters feared dead in the crash - report
Russian figure skaters and coaches Yevgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were on the American Airlines plane that crashed near Reagan Washington National Airport, according to a report from Russia’s state-run TASS news agency on Thursday, citing a source.
Several coaches and youth skaters from the US figure skating team were also reportedly on the same flight from Wichita, Kansas, to Washington, DC.
Everything we know about the fiery mid-air crash at Washington DC’s Reagan airport
Law enforcement officials scrambled Wednesday night after a jet with 64 civilians collided with an Army helicopter while approaching Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington D.C.
A massive search-and-rescue operation for survivors, involving multiple agencies, was launched in the nearby Potomac River, where the temperature was 42 degrees Fahrenheit.
President Donald Trump said he had been “fully briefed on this terrible accident" and, referring to the passengers, added: “May God Bless their souls.”
While questions remain, including how the horrific incident could have occurred in the heavily monitored air space so close to the Pentagon, here’s what we know so far:
Read the full story here:
Washington DC plane crash: Everything we know about the mid-air collision so far
Questions remain over the mid-air collision between a jet, which was carrying 67 passengers, and a military helicopter
Young figure skaters feared dead in the crash
Several coaches and youth skaters from the US figure skating team were reportedly on the American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas, to Washington, DC, that crashed Wednesday night after a midair collision with an army helicopter.
The skaters were part of the National Development Team and some had stayed in Wichita after the US Figure Skating Championships for advanced training, McClatchy News reported.
Team USA pair skater Luke Wang and ice dancer Ethan Peal expressed their shock and offered prayers for the families of those involved in the crash.“Praying for all those on the flight from wichita to dc,” Wang wrote on X on Wednesday night, adding that “among the passengers were skaters and coaches. absolutely heartbreaking.”
Another skater, Team USA ice dancer Ethan Peal, tweeted: “I am in shock. Praying for families and my skating community,” in response to the news.
American Airlines crash witness says plane resembled 'Roman candle'
At least 19 aircraft diverted to nearest Dulles International Airport following crash
Around 19 planes were diverted to Dulles International Airport following the crash near Reagan National Airport, about 20 miles west.
According to flight aviation analytics firm Cirium, there were 858 flights scheduled at Reagan National airport on Wednesday and 869 on Thursday.
The airport will remain closed until at least 11am ET on Thursday, authorities said.
DC fire chief says rescue operation could last several days
Washington DC fire chief John A Donnelly, Sr said that the rescue operation at the site of the crash could last for days.
During a press briefing, he said that around 300 responders from the DC region were working at the crash site and that the rescue operation would take “many hours” and could last for days.
He said the Potomac River was cold and dark and the conditions were windy.
Meanwhile, an NBC-affiliate reported that more than a dozen bodies have been recovered after the midair collision between an American Airlines plane and an army helicopter into the Potomac River.
More than a dozen bodies recovered - report
More than a dozen bodies have been recovered after the midair collision between an American Airlines plane and an army helicopter into the Potomac River, according to an NBC affiliate that cited two sources.
Authorities continue to search the area as the investigation into the collision continues.
Maroosha Muzaffar
The Independent