On Wednesday evening, a tragic incident unfolded near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport when a military helicopter and a passenger jet collided midair. The jet, carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, tragically struck the three US Army soldiers aboard the helicopter. This devastating event has become one of the key highlights of the US plane crash in recent memory, drawing attention to aviation safety and the ongoing investigation into the cause.
At least 28 remains have been recovered from the Potomac River, according to American Airlines, which also stated in a press briefing that there are probably no survivors. The rescue effort is still in progress.
What took place?
Around nine o’clock at night, a Bombardier aircraft, flown by PSA, a subsidiary of American Airlines, collided with a military helicopter that was on a regular training trip as it approached Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
When both planes crashed into the icy Potomac River, a huge flame lit up the night sky, according to the incident’s video.
Rescue operations
The highlights of the US plane crash include the challenging severe weather conditions at the crash site, which have significantly hampered rescue operations. Despite these obstacles, nearly 300 troops, along with helicopters, inflatable boats, and divers, have been deployed in the search for survivors. The Coast Guard has also joined the efforts, working in freezing waters, battling heavy winds, and navigating poor visibility to continue the search and rescue mission.
“We are now at the point where we are switching from a rescue operation to a recovery operation,” stated Jonn Donnelly, the fire chief for Washington, during a press conference Wednesday morning. “We don’t believe there are any survivors.”
Onboard, the US-Russian Figure Skating Community
According to sources, Russian pair skating champions Vadim Naumov and Yevgenia Shishkova were among the deceased, as were other members of the US figure skating community who were on board the tragic flight. The involvement of Russian citizens in the crash was verified by the Russian authorities.
"Why didn't the helicopter go up or down?" asks President Trump in response.
Donald Trump, the former president, expressed his worries about the incident on social media, asking why the chopper did not take evasive action in the face of the obvious weather. The aircraft was on its intended approach path, he noted, and he was frustrated by the circumstance, describing it as a “bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented.”
Audio tension prior to impact
CNN was able to obtain audio from air traffic control that documented the anxious moments leading up to the incident. As the planes got closer to one another, the controllers’ and helicopter pilots’ conversations showed increasing bewilderment.
Air traffic controllers asked American Airlines Flight 5342 whether it could land on a shorter runway in the minutes before the tragedy. Flight monitoring data indicated the plane and modified its approach in accordance with the pilots’ agreement.
A controller radioed a helicopter less than 30 seconds prior to the crash to inquire if it could see the approaching jet. Another call came shortly after: “PAT 25 passed behind the CRJ.” We received no response.
Persistent issues at Reagan Airport
Concerns over the introduction of longer-distance flights have been rekindled by the deadly airborne crash close to Reagan National Airport in Washington, DC. According to CNN, some Senate Democrats fiercely opposed the bill, arguing that it would worsen traffic in the already congested airspace and raise safety concerns.
The contentious expansion was a component of the May-approved aviation law, which also included large spending for infrastructure and safety improvements. Senators Tim Kaine and Chris Van Hollen contended that the action exacerbated the airport’s acknowledged safety problems and traffic, which is already running at capacity.