Arlington, va. – A Jet Washington, along with 60 passengers and four crew members, collided with an army helicopter contacting Ronald Reagan National Airport near DC, demolishing two aircraft into the Potomac River. Officials said on Thursday that everyone was feared to be dead in two aircraft.
The collision occurred in some of the world’s most tightly controlled and monitored airspace on Wednesday night, more than 3 miles (5 kilometers) south of the White House and US Capital.
Here are some things to know about the collision:
Accident
The collision occurred around 9 pm when a regional jet collided with a military helicopter on a training exercise at the end of a flight from Wichita, Kansas, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
A few minutes before Jet landed, air traffic controllers asked American Airlines flight 5342 if he could do so on a small runway, and Pilot agreed. The controllers cleaned the jet on the ground and the flight tracking sites showed that the aircraft adjusts its approach to the new runway.
Less than 30 seconds before the accident, an air traffic controller asked a helicopter if it was an upcoming aircraft. The controller later made another radio call in the moments of the helicopter, stating that “PAT 25 is behind CRJ”-Apparently the copter to wait to go to the Bombardier CRJ-701 twin-engine jet Saying for There was no answer. Then second, the aircraft collided.
The radio transponder of the aircraft stopped transmitting about 2,400 feet (732 m) less than the runway, about 2,400 feet (732 m) between Potomac.
Officials said that the body of the aircraft was found to be upside down in three sections in the back water. Helicopter debris was also found.
emergency response
The authorities conducted a large-scale search-and-rescue operation that turned into a recovery mission.
About 300 earlier respondents were at the scene in early Thursday. Inflatable boats were combing the river and the first respondents installed light towers along the edge to illuminate the area. Helicopters of law enforcement agencies throughout the region were also being used in method search for bodies.
Washington Fire chief John Donley said at a news conference on Thursday morning, “We are now at the point where we are turning into a recovery operation from a rescue operation.” “We don’t believe that someone is left.”
victim
If all the people on the aircraft died, it would be the deadliest American air accident in about 24 years. At least 28 bodies were drawn from the river icy water till morning.
Passengers included the figure skaters returning from the 2025 US Figure Skating Championships and their two Russian coaches, Avgania Sheeshkova and Vadim Naomov.
According to Kremlin, other Russian citizens besides Sheeshkova and Naimov were also on the aircraft. Coaches, skaters and other championships were in, which concluded on Sunday, and a development camp.
Sheeshkova and Naimov got married and won the 1994 World Championship in Pyar Figure Skating.
“We have been destroyed by this inexplicable tragedy and closely hold the families of the victims in our hearts,” US Figure Skating said in a statement.
Airport
Located with Potomac in the south -west of Washington, Reagan National is a popular option as it is much close to the city than in the larger Dales International Airport.
All takeoff and landing were stopped from Reagan. The FAA said that it was prepared to open again at 11 am on Thursday.
Transport Secretary Sean Dafi said at a news conference that the night was clear and before the confrontation, the aircraft and helicopter flight path “were not uncommon for what happens in DC Aerospeace.”
“I would just say that everyone who fly into the American sky, hoping that we fly safely,” he said. “When you depart from an airport, you reach your destination. It did not happen last night, and I know that President Trump, his administration, FAA, Dot, we will not rest until we have an answer to the families and for the flying public. ,
Test
Investigators will try to do the last moments of the aircraft together before their collision, including contact with air traffic controllers as well as loss of height by jet.
plane
According to the helicopter US Army, there was a UH-60 Blackhawk located at Fort Belveer in Virginia. An army official said that a crew of three soldiers was on a helicopter.
The aircraft was a Canadian-made Bombardier CRJ-701 twin-engine jet and was produced in 2004. It can take up to 70 passengers.
History of deadly aircraft accidents
Malignant accidents of commercial aircraft in the US are rare. In 2009, Buffalo was near New York. All 45 passengers and four crew members were killed when the Bombardier DHC -8 propeller aircraft crashed into a house. A person was also killed on the ground.
The incident recalled an Air Florida flight accident on Wednesday, which fell into Potomac on 13 January 1982, killing 78 people. The accident was attributed to bad weather.