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JUST IN: FBI Says There Is ‘No Indication’ Of Terrorism In Reagan National Plane Crash

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A senior FBI official with the bureau’s Washington Field Office told NBC News that there is “no indication” of terrorism or criminality in Wednesday night’s plane crash outside Reagan Washington International Airport in Arlington, Virginia, just north of Washington D.C.

The Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) has confirmed that an American 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. One or both of the aircraft plunged into the Potomac River, where rescue crews are scrambling to locate any survivors. The American Airlines aircraft was traveling from Wichita, Kansas and was getting ready to land.

The Bombardier CRJ700 that crashed has a maximum capacity of 65 passengers, according to a statement from American Airlines. The aircraft has a total of 44 seats in its main cabin, 12 in the main cabin extra section and nine in first class, according to the airline’s website. It is currently unknown whether the aircraft, which was believed to be about 400 feet in the air while traveling at roughly 150 miles-per-hour, was full at the time of the collision.

An Army official told NBC News that there were three U.S. soldiers onboard the Sikorsky H-60 helicopter at the time of the crash. Their statuses remain unknown as of this report.

“There is no indication of any criminality or terrorism in the crash,” NBC News reported, citing a senior official with the bureau’s Washington Field Office. The official added that the FBI is standing by to assist with the investigation.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed that she has been briefed on the incident and is “actively monitoring” the situation. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that he is at the headquarters of the FAA and is monitoring the situation. Duffy, a former U.S. representative, was confirmed as transportation secretary on Tuesday and was sworn in just today.

Footage of the midair collision was captured by the Webcam at the Kennedy Center. The grainy video appears to show the military helicopter, a Sikorsky H-60, ascending before it collided with the aircraft. A fireball was visible before one or both of the aircraft plunged into the Potomac River.

Rescue efforts are currently being hampered by frigid water temperatures and icy waters. The current water temperature is 35 degrees at the closest buoy to the crash site, according to a report from NBC News. Local media outlets have reported that “multiple people” have been pulled from the water, though it is currently unknown whether the victims were alive or not.

In air traffic control recordings from around the time of the crash, air traffic controllers can be heard asking whether a “CRJ” aircraft was in site. Controllers can then be heard reacting to the crash before instructing additional aircraft to land immediately.

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“I been fully briefed on the terrible accident which just took place at Reagan National Airport. May God Bless their souls,” President Donald Trump announced in a statement. “Thank you for the incredible work being done by our first responders. I am monitoring the situation and will provide more details as they arise.”

U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) announced that he had just landed at Reagan Washington National Airport after traveling from Houston, Texas. “I landed at DCA this evening at 8:42pm, IAH—DCA, minutes before an in-flight collision over the airport. My thoughts are with all involved and their families. Hoping first responders find survivors,” Swalwell wrote in an X post.

Wednesday night’s midair plane crash comes 43 years after a different aircraft crashed into a bridge and plunged into the Potomac River not far from Wednesday’s crash site. Air Florida Flight 90 struck the 14th Street Bridge and went into the Potomac River on January 13, 1982. Seventy-four of the 79 passengers and crew members died in the crash, while four people in vehicles on the bridge were also killed.

UPDATE: Trump, Vance Offer Prayers, Deploy Coast Guard Resources… Rescue Crews Report ‘No Viable Survivors’