WASHINGTON – The 64-person American Airlines regional jet collided with a US Army Black Hawk helicopter late Wednesday near Virginia’s Reagan National Airport, just across from the Columbia area, plunging both aircraft into the Potomac River. is.
“Unfortunately, we couldn’t save anyone,” Jackpotter, director of the Metropolitan Washington Airports, said at a press conference Thursday morning.
Eagle Flight 5342 in the United States was born in Wichita, Kansas. With the American Figure Skating Association Cremlin.
American Airlines has been confirmed There were 60 passengers and four crew members, and the flight had landed at DCA, a call letter from the National Airport. The crash occurred on Eastern Wednesday around 9pm. According to the Federal Aviation Administration.
DC Fire Chief John Donnelly said about 300 emergency responders were searching for Potomac. Donnelly said at a Thursday morning press conference at the airport that he was pivoting from rescue operations to recovery.
He said 27 bodies were recovered from the plane, one from the helicopter.
President Donald Trump I said “I don’t know what led to this crash, but I have a very strong opinion.”
A few minutes later he added: “This was a very short period of time. You’ll reach that bottom.”
Trump, Vice President J.D. Vans, and newly established Transport Director Sean Duffy and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegses, will be focusing on diversity, equity, comprehensive initiatives and former presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama. We spent several minutes between comments denounced the administration’s crash.
When asked by a reporter how he knows that diversity in air traffic controllers is a factor in the crash, Trump replied, “Because I have common sense.”
Previous Heggs I said it on social media The investigation by the DOD and the Army was “released soon.”
The National Traffic Safety Commission will lead an investigation into the crash, officials said.
Hegseth posted an email statement from the US military joint task force and spokesman Heather Chearez for the national capital region, stating that the helicopter was on the training flight. The helicopter was operated at Davison Army Airfield in Fort Belvoir, Virginia, according to a statement.
Many questions
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom said at an airport’s press conference that he “don’t know why military aircraft came on the road.”
Mayor DC Muriel Bowser spoke with Trump administration officials but said he was not directly with Trump.
Playing cards overnight Posted on social mediaa crash fall appears to have occurred, and it appears to be a “bad situation that appears to have been prevented.”
“The plane was on the line of perfect, everyday approach to the airport,” he said. “The helicopter was flying straight for a long time. It was a sunny night and the lights on the plane were on fire. Why didn’t the helicopter go up or down or spin? Why did the control towers. Instead of asking if they saw the plane, they didn’t tell the helicopter what to do.”
Transport Secretary Duffy said at an airport news conference that crashes are preventable, Wednesday night was a “clear night” and that both aircraft were in a “standard flight pattern.”
“The flight routes that were flying from the military or the US (airlines) before the collision were not uncommon for what happened in DC airspace,” Duffy said.
He added, “It was the norm until it reached the crash.”
“Something went wrong here,” Duffy said.
Another White House statement noted that the president was briefed and monitored the situation.
Virginia Democrats Tim Kane and Mark Warner, who raised concerns about the DCA’s busy flight route, said they were looking forward to an independent investigation from the NTSB.
“It’s not time to speculate,” Kane said. “Now is the time to research and answer any questions you need. I’m confident that it will be done.”
Difficult conditions for rescue operations
Bowser said the governors of Maryland and Virginia provided DC with personnel to assist in search and rescue operations.
Donnelly noted that there are major challenges in rescue operations, including eight feet deep water, freezing temperatures and night cover.
“There’s wind and there’s a piece of ice there, so it’s just dangerous and difficult to work. And there’s not much light, so every square is to see if you can find someone. Looking for an inch of space, he said, “The water is dark, it’s vague, and it’s a very difficult situation for them to dive in.”
Kansas Republicans Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall attended an earlier press conference at the DCA hours after crash.
“We will do everything we can to make sure we support rescue operations and that our subcommittee and Congress need to come after the outcome. I’ll do everything I can to make sure I’m engaged, and it’s a kind of research this month and this month,” Moran said.
Moran is on the US Senate Committee on Commercial, Science and Transport. He added that he is talking to the White House, American Airlines and DOD.
At his first press conference hours after the crash, Duffy noted that there was an investigation.
“Obviously there’s a review of what happened here tonight. After the FAA investigates what happened, we’ll take appropriate action if necessary to change the flight route,” Duffy said. Ta.
Marshall expressed sympathy for those on the plane.
“I wish we had more to do,” he said. “We want them to come home that we care and that we love them.”
Figure skating in the US confirmed that some of the team members were on the flight.
“These athletes, coaches and families had returned from a national development camp held in connection with the US figure skating championship in Wichita, Kansas. We were devastated by this indescribable tragedy. and keeps the victims’ families in close tunes in their minds. This situation will continue to monitor the situation and release more information when it becomes available,” the organization provides State Newsroom. It stated in a statement.
Unknown numbers of Kansan
Wichita Mayor Lily Woo I said At a Thursday morning press conference at Central at 8am, they indicated they had not received their flight manifesto and were not sure if Kansas residents were on board or how many.
“I’m in direct contact with American Airlines to find confirmed information to provide to you,” Wu said.
The Wichita Airport Authority revitalized the Family Incident Support Team Wednesday night, and Wu said one family member came to the airport to seek information about the crash.
According to Wichita officials, direct flights from Wichita to Washington, DC began on January 8, 2024.
“We were extremely honored to have got that flight and continue to advocate for non-stop flights from our community,” Wu said. “This is a true tragedy and I want this (city) council and I want all of our community members to know that our hearts are heavy. It has been impacted.”
US Rep. Ron Estes said he will remain in touch with White House officials until Wednesday night.
“When such a tragic incident occurs, obviously we go through that process and investigate it takes days and weeks to ensure that such an accident can be prevented from happening in the future. I want to do it,” said Estes, a representative of the Wichita area, at a press conference.
Kansas legislators respond
Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson, who represents Andover’s Wichita suburbs, issued a statement Thursday saying “The clash is immeasurable.”
“Last night, in the sky above our country’s capital, a military helicopter collided with the US Eagle Flight 5342 flying an inbound inbound from Wichita to Reagan National Airport. Our leaders seek answers And the Kansas Senate unites in constant prayer for passengers and crew, their families and loved ones, and all souls affected by this terrible tragedy. Together, we lose our lives. , mourning for those who pray for God’s comfort for all,” Masterson said.
American Airlines has released an update news.aa.comand the company has instructed the victim’s family to call 1-800-679-8215.
Last updated at 11:09am, January 30, 2025
