Tragedy struck on Wednesday, January 29 as a US passenger plane carrying 64 people crashed into Washington’s Potomac River after colliding mid-air with a military helicopter near Reagan National Airport, prompting a major emergency response.
Flight 5342, a PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet operating for American Airlines and traveling from Wichita, Kan., collided with the military chopper while approaching Runway 33 at the Washington airport around 9 p.m., according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
About 300 first responders and divers are part of an active search of the Potomac, which is a perilous 35 degrees for the 60 passengers and four crew members aboard the American Airlines flight and the three soldiers traveling in the military chopper, with first responders recovering the remains of at least 18 people, according to CBS News.
No survivors have been found, the outlet added.
Officials did not confirm the recovery of any passengers on either aircraft at a press conference early Thursday morning.
“Our concern is for the passengers and crew on board the aircraft,” American Airlines told The Post in a statement.
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“We are in contact with authorities and assisting with emergency response efforts.”
The Army UH-60 helicopter involved in the crash was based at Fort Belvoir in Virginia, according to the Army and Pentagon, with the flight reportedly a training exercise, Fox News reported.
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