Metropolitan Police in Washington, D.C. are on the scene of a reported plane crash in the Potomac River. Authorities are currently working on the recovery and rescue efforts.
Washington Plane Crash : An American Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter collided mid-air on Wednesday night near Reagan Washington National Airport, according to officials.
Senator Ted Cruz of Texas confirmed on social media that “we know there are fatalities,” but did not specify the exact number.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration reported that a PSA Airlines regional jet collided midair with a Black Hawk helicopter while approaching Reagan National Airport. A U.S. Army official later confirmed that one of its helicopters was involved in the crash.
PSA Airlines was operating Flight 5342 for American Airlines, which had taken off from Wichita, Kansas, according to the FAA. The jet, which has a capacity of up to 65 passengers, is listed on American Airlines’ website.
Police stated that multiple agencies are currently conducting a search and rescue operation in the Potomac River, which lies adjacent to the airport.
Late Wednesday, the airport announced that all takeoffs and landings were suspended as emergency responders attended to the aircraft incident.
The National Transportation Safety Board stated that it is in the process of gathering additional information regarding the incident.
The U.S. has not experienced a fatal passenger airplane accident since February 2009, but a string of near-miss incidents in recent years has sparked significant safety concerns.
