American Airlines Flight with Dozens on Board Crashes into Potomac River Near Washington D.C.
Mid-air collision with military helicopter leads to deadly crash, search for survivors ongoing
- American Airlines flight and military helicopter collide near D.C
- Search and rescue operations underway in Potomac River
- Ronald Reagan National Airport shut down for emergency response
An American Airlines flight with over 60 people on board has crashed into the Potomac River after a mid-air collision with a military Black Hawk helicopter near Washington D.C.’s Ronald Reagan National Airport.
The Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet, arriving from Wichita, Kansas, collided with the helicopter as it was preparing to land at approximately 9:00 PM EST on Wednesday.
The crash resulted in the plane breaking into pieces, while the helicopter also plunged into the water. Search efforts involving boats and divers are underway to find survivors, though fatalities have been confirmed.
Three U.S. Army soldiers were aboard the military helicopter, which had been conducting a training flight from Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
The incident has prompted the closure of the airport, with operations halted until at least Thursday morning.
President Donald Trump expressed concern, calling it a preventable tragedy and praised the first responders for their efforts.
The Federal Aviation Administration has launched an investigation into the crash.
