Washington, D.C., U.S.A.| A devastating mid-air collision between an American Airlines regional passenger jet and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter sent both aircraft plunging into the Potomac River near Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday night, officials confirmed.
Emergency response teams have recovered at least 18 bodies from the crash site, with no survivors found so far.
The incident occurred in the airspace surrounding the busy Washington, D.C. airport, raising immediate concerns over air traffic safety and prompting a large-scale rescue and recovery operation.
According to US-based CBS News, authorities are continuing to search for additional victims in the near-freezing waters of the Potomac.
Citing law enforcement sources, The Washington Post reported that multiple bodies had been retrieved, but there were no indications of survivors. The exact number of casualties remains uncertain.
Meanwhile, Texas Senator Ted Cruz acknowledged the loss of lives in a social media post, stating, “We know there are fatalities,” though he did not specify a number.
According to initial reports, the American Airlines jet was carrying 64 people when it collided mid-air with the Black Hawk helicopter, leading to a catastrophic descent into the river.
The cause of the collision remains unclear, and authorities, including the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), have launched an urgent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Eyewitnesses described a horrifying scene as the two aircraft collided in the night sky before crashing into the river, creating a fiery explosion upon impact. First responders, including the Coast Guard, local fire departments, and military personnel, swiftly arrived at the scene, battling harsh conditions in an effort to locate and rescue any possible survivors.
The Potomac River, which runs through the nation’s capital, has been the site of aviation tragedies in the past, most notably the 1982 Air Florida Flight 90 crash, in which a passenger plane struck a bridge and fell into the frozen river, claiming 78 lives.
Wednesday’s collision has once again highlighted concerns over air traffic coordination in the heavily congested Washington, D.C. airspace.
As recovery operations continue, officials are expected to provide further updates on casualties and potential survivors.
Families of those onboard are being notified, and both American Airlines and the US Army have pledged full cooperation with investigators.
This is a developing story, and further details will be reported as they emerge.
See the video below for more context to this tragic story:
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