Midair Collision Near Washington, DC: American Airlines Plane and Black Hawk Helicopter Crash Over Potomac River

A devastating midair collision between an American Airlines passenger jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter has left at least 67 people unaccounted for, prompting a large-scale search and rescue operation in the Potomac River near Washington, DC. The collision occurred at approximately 9:00 PM on Wednesday (02:00 GMT Thursday) as the plane approached Ronald Reagan National Airport for landing.

Incident Overview

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that a PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700, operating under American Airlines, collided midair with a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. The commercial aircraft was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, while the military helicopter had three personnel on board.

Following the collision, both aircraft plunged into the Potomac River, triggering an immediate emergency response.

Rescue and Recovery Efforts

Emergency teams from multiple agencies, including the Washington Fire and Police Departments, were dispatched to the scene. As of Thursday morning, nearly 300 responders are engaged in a high-risk rescue operation amid challenging weather conditions. Washington Fire Chief John Donnelly described the conditions as "extremely rough," with high winds, low visibility, freezing temperatures, and murky waters hampering efforts.

Mayor Muriel Bowser confirmed that all available resources are being deployed to locate survivors. "This is an unprecedented tragedy for our city. We are working around the clock with federal and military partners to conduct a full-scale rescue and recovery operation," she said.

Flight Operations Suspended at Ronald Reagan National Airport

In response to the crash, all takeoffs and landings at Ronald Reagan National Airport have been temporarily halted. Passengers and travelers have been advised to check with their airlines for updates on rescheduled flights.

Eyewitness Accounts and Official Statements

Several witnesses reported seeing a fireball in the night sky followed by debris falling into the river. Local resident Mark Caldwell, who was near the crash site, said, "I saw the explosion in the sky and heard a loud boom. Within minutes, there were sirens everywhere. It was terrifying."

Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas expressed deep sorrow over the incident. "When one person dies, it’s a tragedy, but when many, many, many people die, it’s an unbearable sorrow," he said during a press briefing.

Investigation Underway

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched an investigation into the cause of the collision. Officials have not ruled out technical failures or air traffic miscommunication. Both the aircraft's black boxes will be recovered and analyzed to determine the sequence of events leading to the crash.

Ongoing Updates

Authorities are expected to hold another press conference later today to provide further updates on casualties, survivors, and the progress of recovery efforts.

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