Washington -A regional jet of American Airlines with 64 people, on Wednesday, collided near the Reagan National Airport in Virginia directly opposite the District of Columbia with a Black Hawk helicopter of the US Army and plunged both planes into the Potomac River.
“Unfortunately we couldn’t save anyone,” said Jack Potter, head of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, during a press conference on Thursday morning.
American Eagle Flight 5342 had been created in Wichita, Kansas. The US characters Skating Association and that on board Kansas and Russia who had traveled from Kansas included the US figures on board Kreml.
American Airlines confirmed There were 60 passengers on board and four flight crews and the flight ended up at DCA, the National Airport Call Letters. The crash occurred around 9 p.m. Ost Wednesday, According to the Federal Aviation Administration.
John Donnelly, DC fire chief, said that around 300 emergency services searched the Potomac. Donnelly found in a press conference on Thursday morning at the airport that they swivel from rescue operations to recovery.
He said 27 bodies were recovered from the plane and one from the helicopter.
President Donald Trump said At a press conference on Thursday morning from the White House: “We don’t know what led to this crash, but we have some very strong opinions.”
Minutes later, he added: “This was a terrible very tiny time. We will get to the bottom. “
Trump, Vice President JD Vance and the newly installed transport secretary Sean Duffy and Defense Minister Pete Hegseth spent a few minutes during the comments that have held initiatives responsible for diversity, justice and inclusion, as well as the administration of former presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama.
When asked by reporters, where he knew that the diversity between air traffic controls was a factor for the crash, Trump replied: “Because I have common sense.”
Hegseth earlier said on social media that an examination of DOD and the army was “immediately launched”.
The National Transportation Safety Board will lead to examining the crash, officials said.
Hegseth published an email declaration by spokeswoman Heather Chaire for the joint task force national region of the US military and explained that the helicopter was in a training flight. According to the explanation, the helicopter was operated on by the Davison Army airfield in Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
Many questions
Robert Isom, CEO of American Airlines, said during the press conference at the airport that “we do not know why the military aircraft came in the way” of the passenger plane.
The mayor of DC, Muriel Bowser, said she spoke to Trump’s government officials, but not directly with Trump.
Trump overnight Posted on social mediaApparently to criticize that the crash has occurred and that it “looks like a bad situation as if it should have been prevented”.
“The plane was in a perfect and routine approach to the airport,” he said. “The helicopter went directly on the plane over a longer period of time. It is a clear night that blazes on the plane, why did the helicopter not go up or down or turn. Why did the control tower not told the helicopter, what to do instead of asking if he saw the plane? “
Transport Secretary Duffy said at the press conference at the airport that he agreed that the crash was avoidable, that Wednesday evening was “a clear night” and that both planes were in a “standard flight pattern”.
“Before the collision, the flight paths flown by the military and Americans (airlines), this was not unusual for what happens in the DC air dream,” said Duffy.
He added that “everything was standard in the run -up to the crash.”
“Something went wrong here,” said Duffy.
In a separate explanation of the White House, it was found that the president had been informed and monitored the situation.
The democratic sens in Virginia, Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, who expressed concerns about the overcrowded flight paths at DCA, said they are looking forward to the independent studies by NTSB.
“It is not time to speculate,” said Kaine. “It is a time to examine and get answers to the questions we need and I have confidence that is done.”
Difficult conditions for rescue operations
Bowser said that the governors of Maryland and Virginia had made DC available with the staff to aid with the search and rescue.
Donnelly noticed that there were major challenges in the rescue operations, such as the water, which is 8 feet deep, the freezer temperatures and the cover of the night.
“There is wind, there is ice pieces outside, so it’s just dangerous and difficult to work, and because there are not many lights, look for every place for squares out there to see if you can find someone,” he said . “The water is dark, it is cloudy, and this is a very difficult state for you when you dive.”
Kansa’s Republican Sens. Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall were hours after the crash at an earlier press conference at DCA.
“We will do everything we can to ensure that we support the rescue efforts, and we will do everything we can to ensure this evening and the type of investigation of this month,” said Moran.
Moran sits in the US Senate Committee for Trade, Science and Transport. He added that he spoke to the White House, American Airlines and Dod.
At the first press conference hours after the crash, Duffy found that there would be an examination.
“Obviously there will be a review of what happened here tonight, and after studying FAA, we will take suitable measures if necessary to change flight paths,” said Duffy.
Marshall expressed his sympathy with those on board the flight.
“We wish we can do more,” he said. “I want people to know at home that we are interested and we love them.”
The US Skaten confirmed that some of his team members were on the flight.
“These athletes, trainers and family members returned home from the National Development Camp in cooperation with the US ice skating championships in Wichita, Kansas. We are destroyed by this unspeakable tragedy and keep the families of the victims closely in our hearts. We will continue to monitor the situation and publish further information as soon as it is available, ”said the organization in a statement by the states’ newsroom.
Unknown number of Kansans on board
Wichita Mayor Lily Wu said During a press conference on Thursday morning at 8 a.m., Central that they had not received the flight manifest and did not know whether or how many residents of Kansas were on board.
“I am in direct contact with American Airlines to find the confirmed information that you can provide to everyone,” said Wu.
Wichita Airport Authority activated its team for the support of the family incident on Wednesday evening and WU said a family came to the airport to search for information about the crash.
The direct flight from Wichita to Washington, DC, began on January 8, 2024.
“We were very honored to have this flight and continue to work for these uninterrupted flights from our community,” said Wu. “This is a real tragedy and one who wants to know this (city) council and I all of our community members that our hearts are tough, mourn them, and we will provide support for those who have affected who have been affected . “
The US MP Ron Estes said he was in contact with officials from the White House by Wednesday evening.
“If a tragic incident takes place like this, of course we would like to carry out the examination that will take days and weeks to carry out this process, and to ensure that we can prevent such accidents in the future,” Estes, Estes, Estes, who Represented the area of Wichita, said at the press conference.
The legislators of Kansas react
The President of the Senate of Kansas, Ty Masterson, who represents the suburb of Wichita von Andover, published an explanation on Thursday in which he was “unfathomable”.
“Last night, in heaven above the capital of our nation, a military helicopter collided with the American Eagle Flight 5342, which was admitted from Wichita to the Reagan National Airport. While our leaders are looking for answers, the Senate of Kansas is in constant prayer for passengers and crews, their families and relatives and every soul affected by this terrible tragedy. Together we mourn for those who have lost their lives and for God’s comfort for all praying, ”said Masterson.
American Airlines publish updates at news.aa.comAnd the company instructs the victims’ family members to call 1-800-679-8215.
Last updated at 12:09 p.m., January 30, 2025
