A passenger plane crashed into an Army helicopter while trying to land at Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington, D.C., and fell into the Potomac River late Wednesday, local officials confirmed.
The Federal Aviation Administration said a Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet, operated by PSA Airlines for American Airlines, crashed into a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter near the runway at Reagan Airport around 9 p.m.
The Bombardier jet, which took off from Wichita, Kansas, was carrying 60 passengers and 4 crew members. A CRJ700 jet usually seats 60 to 80 people.
The helicopter involved was a U.S. Army Blackhawk carrying 3 people, confirmed by Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser.
There is no information yet about any deaths, but the Washington Post reported that rescue workers found bodies in the river.
After the crash, all flights at Reagan National were stopped, and officials said the airport would remain closed until at least 11 a.m. EST on Thursday.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News that President Trump has been informed about the crash and that federal and local authorities are working to save as many lives as possible.
What Do We Know About The Rescue And Recovery Efforts?
At a press conference on Thursday morning, John Donnelly, the head of Washington’s fire and emergency medical services, said the first responders arrived at the scene at 8:58 p.m. local time, just 10 minutes after getting the alert. They found a plane in the water and started rescue operations. Donnelly said there are 300 emergency workers at the scene, and they are dealing with a very complicated operation because of the “extremely rough” and windy conditions.
What Do We Know About The Number Of Casualties?
There has been no official report on the number of casualties yet, but Senator Roger Marshall from Kansas said there may be many deaths. He said, “Losing one person is tragic, but losing so many is unbearable… It’s very hard when over 60 people from Kansas die at once. It’s a huge tragedy.” D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser emphasized that the main focus is on rescuing people, and all the teams are working on that.
What Do We Know About The Passengers Onboard?
We don’t have many details about the people on the plane and the helicopter, but U.S. Figure Skating said some of its community members were onboard. The people, including athletes, coaches, and their families, were returning from a national camp in Wichita, Kansas. Russian news outlet TASS reported that a former world champion pairs figure skating team from Russia may have also been on the plane.
What Has President Donald Trump Said About The Potomac Plane Crash?
President Donald Trump released a statement saying, “I have been fully briefed on the terrible accident at Reagan National Airport. May God bless their souls. Thank you to the first responders for their amazing work. I am watching the situation and will share more information as it comes.” Later, he posted on his Truth Social platform, questioning the actions of the helicopter operator and air controllers. He said, “The airplane was approaching the airport perfectly. The helicopter was heading straight at the plane for a long time. It was a clear night, the plane’s lights were on. Why didn’t the helicopter go up or down, or turn? Why didn’t the control tower guide the helicopter instead of asking if they saw the plane? This could have been prevented. This is not good!”
What Have Other Federal Officials Said About The Potomac Plane Crash?
Vice President J.D. Vance posted on X: “Please pray for everyone involved in the mid-air crash near Reagan airport this evening. We’re keeping an eye on things, but for now, let’s hope for the best.” Transport Secretary Sean Duffy said he was “at the FAA HQ and closely following the situation,” while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the Pentagon was “watching closely” and ready to help if needed. Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, tweeted: “We are sending all available US Coast Guard resources for search and rescue in this terrible incident at DCA.”
What to Look Out For
The next update about the accident will be at 7:30 a.m. at Reagan Airport, Bowser said on X.
Background Information
Reagan National Airport is in a busy area and is strictly controlled, close to important places like the Pentagon and Washington, D.C. Big crashes with large passenger planes are very rare in the U.S. The accident on Wednesday is the first deadly crash of a U.S. commercial flight since the Colgan Air crash in 2009, which killed 50 people. The last crash on U.S. soil involving a commercial flight was in 2013, when a South Korean Asiana Airlines plane crashed in San Francisco, killing three and injuring 187 people.
Published: 30th January 2025
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