Following a midair collision near Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday night, an American Airlines regional passenger jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter plunged into the Potomac River, as confirmed by authorities.
The Washington Post reported that several bodies had been recovered from the water, with Senator Ted Cruz of Texas acknowledging fatalities on social media without specifying the exact number.
An American Airlines insider informed Reuters that the flight was supposed to carry 60 passengers, two pilots, and two crew members, while a U.S. official disclosed that three soldiers were on board the military helicopter.
NBC News mentioned that four individuals were rescued from the river following the crash.
The incident, which saw an explosion in the sky captured by a web camera from the Kennedy Center in Washington around 2047 Eastern Time, is a tragic event. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration stated that a PSA Airlines regional jet collided with the helicopter during its approach to Reagan.
Various law enforcement agencies were mobilized for a search and rescue mission in the Potomac River, which runs along the airport. Police, emergency medical services, and rescue teams swiftly coordinated efforts, with boats deployed, along with a suspended airport operation to manage the aftermath of the accident.
