According to federal aviation officials, a commercial airplane struck a Black Hawk helicopter in midair Wednesday night as the jet approached a runway at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
The incident occurred shortly before 9 p.m. ET while the aircraft, which was flown by regional carrier PSA Airlines on behalf of American Airlines, was trying to land.
The death toll was not immediately known. But in at least 15 years, the tragedy might be the biggest catastrophe to hit American airspace.
“Our concern is for the passengers and crew on board the aircraft. We are in contact with authorities and assisting with emergency response efforts,” the airline said in a statement. The aircraft was a Bombardier CRJ-700 carrying 60 passengers and four crew members.
The Army Black Hawk chopper was leaving Fort Belvoir, Virginia, with three soldiers aboard, the Pentagon informed NPR.
A webcam at the neighboring John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts captured a spectacular explosion after a tiny aircraft, most likely the helicopter, collided with the passenger jet at low altitude. According to radar tracking websites, the passenger jet seemed to have plummeted into the icy Potomac River.
The aircraft was trying to land on Runway 33 at Reagan Airport (DCA) after taking off as American Eagle Flight 5342 from Wichita, Kansas.
DC Fire and EMS verified that a small aircraft fell into the Potomac River near the airport, while helicopters and fireboats rushed to the scene to search for survivors. “There are multiple partner agencies coordinating a search and rescue operation in the Potomac River,” according to a news release from DC Fire and EMS and the Metropolitan Police Department.
Due to difficult approaches into the airport and flying limitations above government buildings, the airspace around and around DCA is problematic. Due to the large number of police and military helicopters operating nearby, the airspace is also extremely crowded.
In a statement from the White House, President Trump said, “I have been fully briefed on the terrible accident which just took place at Reagan National Airport. May God Bless their souls. Thank you for the incredible work being done by our first responders. I am monitoring the situation and will provide more details as they arise.”
In 2009, a Colgan Air flight crashed in Buffalo, killing 50 persons in all (49 passengers and crew, plus one person inside a house). This was the last significant commercial airplane accident in the United States.
According to the airline, American Airlines Flight 5342, which carried 60 passengers and four crew members, had taken off from Wichita, Kansas.
According to a US defense official, the chopper that departed from Fort Belvoir, Virginia, carried three personnel.
Reagan National Airport has suspended all takeoffs and landings.