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An American Airlines regional passenger plane and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter collided midair near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday night, plunging into the Potomac River below.
American Airlines confirmed that 64 individuals were on board the passenger plane, including 60 passengers and four crew members. The U.S. Army reported that three soldiers were aboard the Black Hawk helicopter, which was conducting a nighttime training exercise.
The collision occurred just moments after the passenger plane departed from the airport, according to eyewitnesses. Residents in the vicinity reported hearing a loud explosion and saw a fireball illuminate the night sky before the aircraft crashed into the river.
A major search and rescue operation is currently underway, involving local emergency services, the U.S. Coast Guard, and federal agencies. Rescue teams are working tirelessly to locate survivors and recover victims from the frigid waters of the Potomac.
“Our thoughts are with all those affected by this tragic incident,” said a spokesperson for American Airlines. “We are cooperating fully with authorities to determine the cause of this accident.”
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation into the collision. Initial reports suggest that there may have been a communication failure or navigational error, but officials caution that it is too early to draw conclusions.
Families of the passengers and crew members are being notified, and support services are being offered to those impacted by the crash.
Authorities have temporarily closed the airspace around the crash site and have advised the public to avoid the area to allow emergency responders to conduct their operations without hindrance.
This incident marks a rare and tragic event in aviation history. As the investigation unfolds, more details will emerge about how such a catastrophic collision occurred in controlled airspace near a major airport.
Updates will be provided as new information becomes available.
