Politics
BREAKING: American Airlines Flight Crashes Outside Reagan National Airport, Casualties Reported
All flights at Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, were halted on Wednesday night after an American Airlines flight collided with a military helicopter and fell into the Potomac River. A massive rescue operation is currently underway.
“All takeoffs and landings have been halted at DCA. Emergency personnel are responding to an aircraft incident on the airfield. The terminal remains open. Will update,” the airport announced in a statement.
According to data from flight tracker service Flightaware, American Airlines Flight 5342 from Wichita, Kansas collided with the helicopter while it was preparing to land. Casualties are unknown as of this report, though the aircraft can carry up to 78 passengers.
There is currently a massive response from emergency crews and fire boats in the Potomac River. Initial reports are that victims have been found in the water, though it is not known whether they were found alive. The D.C. Fire Department reported that the crash is believed to have occurred shortly after 9 p.m. local time.
Multiple helicopters, including those from the US Park Police and the DC Metropolitan Police Department and US military, were flying over the scene of the incident in the Potomac River. DC Fire and EMS fireboats are currently on the scene.
NBC News reported that rescue efforts are being hindered by frigid temperatures and icy water. At least one EMS helicopter was seen scanning the crash site with its searchlight pointed down, though outlet reporters have been unable to see anything in the water from their vantage point.
One video posted to X and captured from the Webcam at the Kennedy Center caught what appears to be a mid-air explosion near the Potomac River, Fox News reported. The crash has been classified as a “mass casualty event.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that President Trump has been made aware of the incident and is monitoring the situation. “And I can just say that the thoughts and the prayers of the entire Trump Administration are with all those that are involved. And we ask the public in this area to please stand by for guidance from law enforcement as they attempt to save lives right now,” she said.
The Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) confirmed that a military Sikorsky H-60 helicopter collided with a civilian airliner.”A PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet collided in midair with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter while on approach to Runway 33 at Reagan Washington National Airport around 9 p.m. local time,” the agency said. “PSA was operating Flight 5342 as American Airlines. It departed from Wichita, Kansas,'” the statement added.
The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate, the FAA said, with the NTSB taking the lead. The agency has not yet disclosed the altitude at which the crash occurred, though if reports of a midair explosion are confirmed, the likelihood of survivability will drastically decrease.
“I’ve seen the reports of a collision with a D.C. helicopter and an inbound flight from Wichita, KS. We are in contact with authorities working to get answers,” said Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS). “We ask you to join us in prayer for every single passenger and their families.” Marshall and other Kansas lawmakers are currently making their way to the crash site to assess the situation.
UPDATE: FBI Says There Is ‘No Indication’ Of Terrorism In Reagan Washington International Plane Crash
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