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 airplane’s origin. The FAA confirmed the airplane was a Bombardier CRJ700, which might carry a bit of 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 an announcement 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. Based on the corporate’s website, 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 method 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 based on the White Home, questioned how the crash occurred. “It’s a CLEAR NIGHT, the lights on the airplane 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 a substitute of asking in the event that they noticed the airplane,” he wrote. “This can be a dangerous state of affairs 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 ft deep, crammed with ice and murky. The temperature within the space is anticipated to “drop beneath freezing…with lows within the 20s,” based on the Nationwide Climate Service.
There are not any confirmed casualties presently. Flights into and out of the airport have been rapidly halted.
First stories of the crash got here in about 8:53 p.m. ET. Some preliminary stories 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 seemed 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 befell at Reagan Nationwide Airport. Could God Bless their souls. Thanks for the unimaginable work being completed by our first responders. I’m monitoring the state of affairs and can present extra particulars as they come up.