Ronald Reagan airport halts all takeoffs and landings following midair collision close to Potomac River.
A passenger airplane carrying 64 individuals has collided midair with a navy helicopter whereas touchdown at Ronald Reagan Nationwide Airport close to Washington, DC.
The PSA Airways Bombardier CRJ700 jet collided with a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter at round 9pm on Wednesday (02:00 GMT Thursday), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) mentioned.
American Airways confirmed there have been 60 passengers and 4 crew members on board the plane. The US military confirmed that its helicopter was carrying three personnel.
Police mentioned a number of companies had been concerned in a search and rescue operation within the Potomac River, which borders the airport, however there was no instant phrase on casualties from the authorities.
You possibly can observe dwell updates on the Potomac River crash story right here
All takeoffs and landings from the airport have been halted. Inflatable rescue boats had been launched into the Potomac River and first responders arrange mild towers from the shore to light up the realm close to the location of the collision.
The FAA mentioned the airport could be closed till at the very least 5am on Friday.
‘Each plane within the river’
Al Jazeera’s Shihab Rattansi, reporting from Washington, DC, mentioned there was an “monumental response” on the scene of the crash, together with emergency automobiles and boats.
“That is the primary native airport serving the Washington, DC, metropolitan space. We imagine that each of these plane are within the river. So that’s of monumental concern now. We’re informed that at finest, somebody might survive about an hour and a half on this water.”
Video posted on social media appeared to indicate the 2 plane collide and explode into flames.
The Related Press reported that an air site visitors controller had requested the helicopter if it had the arrival airplane in sight lower than 30 seconds earlier than the crash, telling it to “cross behind”. Flight monitoring websites didn’t file any response from the helicopter
US President Donald Trump mentioned he had been “absolutely briefed” on the “horrible accident”.
US defence secretary Pete Hegseth mentioned on X that the US Military and Division of Defence had instantly launched an investigation.
Texas Senator Ted Cruz mentioned “we all know there are fatalities”, with out elaborating on the quantity or the supply of his info.
If the fatalities are confirmed, the crash could be the primary lethal incident involving a US business airline since 2009, when Colgan Air Flight 3407 crashed in Buffalo, New York, killing all 49 individuals on board.
Ronald Reagan Washington nationwide airport, positioned in Arlington, Virginia, is the closest airport to Washington, DC, mendacity lower than 5 miles from the US capital.
The airport is widespread with many travellers due to its proximity to Washington, DC in comparison with Dulles Worldwide Airport, which is positioned about 23 miles additional away.
