A devastating midair collision between an American Airlines regional passenger jet and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter has left many feared dead, with both aircraft plunging into the cold waters of the Potomac River near Reagan Washington National Airport.
The tragic incident occurred Wednesday evening, with the jet carrying 64 people, including passengers and crew, and the helicopter on a training flight with three military personnel aboard, as reported by the Daily Mail.
While officials have not confirmed the exact number of casualties, US Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas, where the flight originated, suggested that the majority, if not all, of those on board the flight may have perished.
‘When one person dies, it’s a tragedy, but when many, many people die, it’s unbearable,’ Marshall said in a press conference Thursday morning.
The crash site, which is located just outside the nation’s capital, has prompted a large-scale rescue operation.
Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority President Jack Potter confirmed that first responders were focusing on recovery efforts in what he described as ‘extremely rough’ conditions.
The frigid waters of the Potomac have heightened concerns over the possibility of hypothermia for any potential survivors.
As the search continued into the early hours, reports from MSN indicated that at least 18 bodies had been recovered from the wreckage.
The cause of the collision is under investigation, with the Pentagon confirming it is looking into the matter.
Preliminary reports suggest the two aircraft were aware of each other’s proximity before the crash, with air traffic control communications capturing the final exchange between the Black Hawk helicopter crew and the control tower.
In the aftermath of the crash, President Donald Trump took to social media, questioning the actions of both the helicopter crew and air traffic controllers, suggesting that the tragedy could have been avoided.
‘Why didn’t the helicopter go up or down, or turn? This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented,’ Trump wrote.
Among those on the passenger jet were Russian former world ice skating champions Yevgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, along with several US ice skaters and their families, returning from a figure skating camp in Wichita.
The identities of the victims are still being confirmed, but the tragedy has shocked the international skating community.
Washington D.C. Fire Chief John Donnelly reported that over 300 first responders were involved in the operation, though officials are still uncertain if any survivors remain. The extreme cold and challenging weather conditions have made the recovery efforts even more difficult.
The area around the crash site remains cordoned off as authorities continue their investigation and search operations. The airport is expected to remain closed until at least 11am EST Thursday as emergency crews work on the scene.
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Picture: Andrew Harnik / Gallo Images
