UPDATED: Nobody is believed to have survived an air collision between an American Airways flight that collided with a army helicopter close to Reagan Washington Nationwide Airport in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday night.
The American Eagle flight 5342, operated by American Airways subsidiary PSA, was carrying 60 passengers and 4 crew members. It collided with a Sikorsky H-60 Blackhawk, carrying three individuals, over the Potomac River.
“We are actually at a degree the place we’re switching from a rescue operation,” stated D.C. Fireplace Chief John Donnelly. ” At this level we don’t consider there are any survivors from this accident.” He stated they’ve recovered 27 individuals from the airplane and one from the helicopter.
Search and rescue groups labored by means of the night time within the space of the wreckage.
U.S. Determine Skating confirmed that a number of members have been on the flight and have been returning residence from the Nationwide Improvement Camp along side the championships in Wichita.
“We’re devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and maintain the victims’ households intently in our hearts,” the group stated.
Russian state media reported that Yevgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, Russian-born ice skating coaches and former world champions, have been on board the PSA airplane.
American Airways stated in a press release: “There have been 60 passengers and 4 crew members on board the plane.” It recognized the flight as American Eagle flight 5342 operated by PSA. In accordance with the corporate’s site, PSA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of American.
At a 1 a.m. press convention, officers maintained that the operation was nonetheless a rescue effort, although Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall assumed fatalities.
“We mourn with the households who’ve misplaced family members,” he stated. Later requested by CNN if he had had fatalities confirmed to him Marshall stated, “No, however I’m a doctor and I’m not silly. There have been no ambulances leaving right here.”
Earlier within the night time, the FAA issued the next assertion:
A PSA Airways Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet collided in midair with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter whereas on method to Runway 33 at Reagan Washington Nationwide Airport round 9 p.m. native time. PSA was working as Flight 5342 for American Airways. It departed from Wichita, Kansas. The FAA and NTSB will examine. The NTSB will lead the investigation.
In a social media put up, President Donald Trump, who had been totally briefed in response to the White Home, questioned how the crash occurred. “It’s a CLEAR NIGHT, the lights on the airplane have been blazing, why didn’t the helicopter go up or down, or flip. Why didn’t the management tower inform the helicopter what to do as a substitute of asking in the event that they noticed the airplane,” he wrote. “This can be a dangerous state of affairs that appears prefer it ought to have been prevented.”
DC police confirmed the crash had taken place over the Potomac River and that search and rescue operations have been going down within the river itself. A fireplace official stated the water that dive crews have been working in is about eight ft deep, full of ice and murky. The temperature within the space is anticipated to “drop beneath freezing…with lows within the 20s,” in response to the Nationwide Climate Service. Flights into and out of the airport have been shortly halted.
First studies of the crash got here in about 8:53 p.m. ET. Some preliminary studies recognized the helicopter as a DCPD plane. Police officers debunked that competition.
Fox Information, CNN and MSNBC shortly jumped to protection with updates from reporters on the scene detailing rescue efforts on the river. In addition they performed dramatic footage of what gave the impression to be a mid-air crash not far off the bottom after which the flash of an explosion.
The White Home additionally issued the next assertion from President Donald Trump:
I’ve been totally briefed on the horrible accident which simply befell at Reagan Nationwide Airport. Might God Bless their souls. Thanks for the unimaginable work being performed by our first responders. I’m monitoring the state of affairs and can present extra particulars as they come up.
