A tragic accident occurred near Washington DC when an American Airlines plane collided with a Black Hawk helicopter. The aircraft, which was en route from Washington to Kansas, had 64 people on board, including 60 passengers and four crew members.
As of now, local media reports, citing police authorities, have confirmed the recovery of 18 bodies. The Bombardier CRJ 700 aircraft split into two after the collision and fell into the Potomac River, as witnessed by onlookers. Rescue and search operations are currently underway in the river.
The incident took place at around 9:00 PM local time near the Reagan Washington National Airport. The aircraft had taken off from Reagan Airport earlier that evening.
In response to the accident, emergency response teams were swiftly deployed to the airport, with over 10 ambulances and trucks present at the scene. Reagan Airport issued a statement on social media, confirming the suspension of all flights for the time being.
According to a U.S. military official, the helicopter involved in the crash was a Black Hawk from the U.S. Army. Three soldiers were aboard the helicopter, though it has not been confirmed whether any senior officials were on board. The condition of the soldiers remains unclear.
U.S. President Donald Trump expressed his condolences on social media following the crash. “I have received full information regarding the incident at Reagan National Airport. Monitoring of the situation is ongoing,” he stated. “My thoughts are with the victims, and may God grant peace to the souls of the deceased.”