Plane Pollides With Military Helicopter Outside US Capital: 60 Onboard

A regional plane collided in midair with a military helicopter near Ronald Reagan National Airport outside Washington, D.C. on Wednesday night, according to authorities.

White House Spokeswoman Caroline Leavitt said in an interview with Fox News that President Donald Trump has been made aware of the incident.

“A PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet collided in midair with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter while on approach to Runway 33 at Reagan Washington National Airport around 9 p.m. local time,” the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said in a statement.

The plane, operated by American Airlines, had taken off from Wichita, Kansas, the FAA said.

According to CNN, citing American Airlines, there were 60 passengers and four crew on board the flight. It also reported that the US Army Black Hawk helicopter had three soldiers on board.

Washington, D.C. police said a multi-agency search and rescue operation is underway in the Potomac River following the crash.

In a post on X, American Airlines said 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 incident.”

The airport said all takeoffs and landings have been halted, adding that “emergency personnel are responding to an aircraft incident on the airfield. The terminal remains open.”

Kansas Senator Roger Marshall said the plane was carrying roughly 60 passengers, adding: “My prayer is that God wraps his arms around each and every victim and that he continues to be with their families.”

(Anadolu)