Washington D.C. – A deadly mid-air collision occurred Wednesday night between a passenger plane and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter, sending both aircraft into the icy waters of the Potomac River. The incident resulted in confirmed fatalities, and recovery efforts are ongoing in the hazardous conditions.
DC's Fire and Emergency Medical Services Chief, John A. Donnelly Sr., provided an update on the search-and-rescue efforts, stating that teams are currently working in water that is about 8 feet deep, compounded by strong winds and floating ice. "The water is dark, murky, and challenging for our teams to dive in,” Donnelly said. “It’s a tough condition, and recovery is expected to take several days."
The crash occurred shortly before the helicopter collided with American Airlines Flight 5342, a CRJ 700 aircraft that was landing at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Air traffic controllers had warned the helicopter crew about the danger of their proximity to the passenger plane, asking, “Have you spotted the CRJ?” – a reference to the incoming American Airlines flight, which had departed from Wichita, Kansas, with 64 people aboard.
The plane was on approach to Reagan National, traveling north toward Runway 33, when the collision occurred. FlightRadar24 confirms that the crash took place less than 30 seconds after the warning from the air traffic controller, sending both aircraft into the icy Potomac River.
Authorities have confirmed that recovery operations are expected to be difficult, and the investigation will take longer due to the tough environment. The conditions are complicated by poor visibility and the challenging access to the crash site.
Stay tuned for further updates on this tragic incident.
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