Passenger Jet Collides With US Army Chopper Near Washington, Deaths Feared

Passenger Jet Collides With US Army Chopper Near Washington, Deaths Feared
Passenger Jet Collides With US Army Chopper Near Washington, Deaths Feared

Story by Rakhsha Bhattacharjee

The Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia has responded to an apparent plane crash in the Potomac River.

Washington

A US official reported that on Wednesday, a BlackHawk helicopter carrying three US Army soldiers collided with an American Airlines regional flight close to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

According to the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the soldiers’ status was unknown, but no senior authorities were on the chopper. Another official stated that Fort Belvoir, Virginia, was home to the Army UH-60 helicopter that was involved in the incident.

The initial information provided by the official may alter. “We know there are fatalities,” Texas Senator Ted Cruz stated on social media, but he did not specify the number.

Airlines regional Plane

According to the US Federal Aviation Administration, a Black Hawk helicopter and a regional flight operated by PSA Airlines collided in midair as they were getting closer to Reagan.

The involvement of one of the U.S. Army’s helicopters in the event was verified by a spokesman. PSA was flying American Airlines Flight 5342, which had taken off from Wichita, Kansas, according to the FAA. The American Airlines website states that the plane can accommodate up to 65 passengers.

Rescue operation

According to police, a search and rescue operation involving several agencies is underway in the Potomac River, which flows alongside the airport. All takeoffs and landings were suspended while emergency personnel attended to an aircraft problem, the airport announced late Wednesday.

The incident is being investigated further by the National Transportation Safety Board. Although the United States has not experienced a deadly passenger aircraft tragedy, a number of near-miss occurrences in recent years have generated major safety concerns.

Social media update

American Airlines posted on social media that it was “aware of reports that American Eagle flight 5342, operated by PSA, with service from Wichita, Kansas (ICT) to Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA) has been involved in an encounter.” As soon as additional information became available, the airline pledged to provide it.

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