A regional passenger jet operated by American Airlines was involved in a mid-air collision with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday night, officials confirmed.
Senator Ted Cruz of Texas stated on social media that “we know there are fatalities,” though he did not specify the number.
According to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the PSA Airlines regional jet, operating as American Eagle Flight 5342, collided with the Black Hawk helicopter while approaching Reagan National. The flight had departed from Wichita, Kansas, and was carrying approximately 60 passengers.
Following the collision, the jet cr+shed into the Potomac River, prompting a large-scale search and rescue operation involving multiple agencies. The river runs along the airport’s perimeter, complicating emergency response efforts.
In response to the incident, all takeoffs and landings at Reagan National were temporarily halted as emergency personnel worked at the scene.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation into the cr+sh. This marks a significant aviation tragedy, as the United States has not experienced a fatal passenger plane accident since February 2009. However, recent near-miss incidents have raised growing concerns about aviation safety.
American Airlines acknowledged the incident on social media, stating that it was aware of reports regarding Flight 5342 and would provide further updates as information became available.
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