A tragic aviation accident occurred on Wednesday night when an American Airlines regional jet collided mid-air with a U.S. military helicopter while approaching Washington’s Ronald Reagan National Airport, leading to a catastrophic crash into the Potomac River.
The aircraft, a Bombardier CRJ700, was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members on a flight from Wichita, Kansas.
Reports indicate that the impact with the Black Hawk helicopter caused the plane to break apart upon crashing into the river. Search and rescue teams, including divers and emergency boats, have been deployed to locate survivors.
A U.S. defense official confirmed that three Army soldiers were aboard the Black Hawk helicopter, which had taken off from Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
The full extent of casualties remains unclear as rescue operations continue.
President Donald Trump acknowledged the disaster in a statement, assuring that he had been “fully briefed on the terrible accident.”
He praised the efforts of first responders and vowed to monitor the situation closely.
In response to the crash, all flights at Ronald Reagan National Airport were temporarily suspended to allow emergency teams unrestricted access to the scene.
The Federal Aviation Administration has launched an investigation into the incident to determine the cause of the collision.
This latest aviation disaster raises concerns about airspace safety around major airports, particularly regarding the coordination of military and civilian aircraft.
