UPDATED: A regional commuter flight inbound from Wichita, Kansas has reportedly collided with a helicopter close to Reagan Washington Nationwide Airport in Washington, D.C. Kansas Governor Laura Kelly confirmed the aircraft’s origin. The FAA confirmed the aircraft was a Bombardier CRJ700, which might carry a bit over 70 passengers. It additionally confirmed that the helicopter was a Sikorsky H-60 Blackhawk. There have been three folks on board that plane.
American Airways mentioned in a press release that “There have been 60 passengers and 4 crew members on board the plane.” It recognized the flight as American Eagle flight 5342 operated by PSA. In response to the corporate’s site, PSA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of American.
At a 1 a.m. press convention, officers maintained that the operation was nonetheless a rescue effort, although Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall assumed fatalities.
“We mourn with the households who’ve misplaced family members,” he mentioned. Later requested by CNN if he had had fatalities confirmed to him Marshall mentioned, “No, however I’m a doctor and I’m not silly. There have been no ambulances leaving right here.”
Earlier within the night time, the FAA issued the next assertion:
A PSA Airways Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet collided in midair with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter whereas on strategy to Runway 33 at Reagan Washington Nationwide Airport round 9 p.m. native time. PSA was working as Flight 5342 for American Airways. It departed from Wichita, Kansas. The FAA and NTSB will examine. The NTSB will lead the investigation.
In a social media put up, President Donald Trump, who had been absolutely briefed in response to the White Home, questioned how the crash occurred. “It’s a CLEAR NIGHT, the lights on the aircraft have been blazing, why didn’t the helicopter go up or down, or flip. Why didn’t the management tower inform the helicopter what to do as an alternative of asking in the event that they noticed the aircraft,” he wrote. “This can be a unhealthy scenario that appears prefer it ought to have been prevented.”
DC police confirmed the crash had taken place over the Potomac River and that search and rescue operations have been going down within the river itself. A fireplace official mentioned the water that dive crews have been working in is about eight toes deep, full of ice and murky. The temperature within the space is anticipated to “drop under freezing…with lows within the 20s,” in response to the Nationwide Climate Service.
There aren’t any confirmed casualties at the moment. Flights into and out of the airport have been rapidly halted.
First studies of the crash got here in about 8:53 p.m. ET. Some preliminary studies recognized the helicopter as a DCPD plane. Police officers debunked that competition.
Fox Information, CNN and MSNBC rapidly jumped to protection with updates from reporters on the scene detailing rescue efforts on the river. In addition they performed dramatic footage of what gave the impression to be a mid-air crash not far off the bottom after which the flash of an explosion.
The White Home additionally issued the next assertion from President Donald Trump:
I’ve been absolutely briefed on the horrible accident which simply came about at Reagan Nationwide Airport. Could God Bless their souls. Thanks for the unbelievable work being completed by our first responders. I’m monitoring the scenario and can present extra particulars as they come up.
