A passenger aircraft collided with a military helicopter over the Potomac River on Wednesday night whilst approaching Reagan Washington National Airport.
American Airlines confirmed 64 people were aboard the regional jet, including 60 passengers and four crew members. The Sikorsky H-60 Black Hawk helicopter was carrying three soldiers on a training mission, according to military officials.
CBS News reported that 18 bodies had been recovered from the river, whilst other media outlets, including the Washington Post, confirmed multiple bodies had been retrieved from the water. No survivors have been found, the newspaper reported.
The collision occurred as PSA Airlines Flight 5342, operating for American Airlines, was approaching the airport after departing from Wichita, Kansas, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said.
Air traffic control recordings captured the moment of impact, with controllers heard asking the helicopter, “PAT25 do you have the CRJ in sight,” followed by another pilot calling seconds later, “Tower, did you see that?”
The Black Hawk helicopter was operating from Fort Belvoir, Virginia, as part of a training exercise, said Heather Chairez, a spokesperson for the Joint Task Force-National Capital Region.
Emergency services launched a major search and rescue operation, with dozens of firefighters conducting dive operations in the Potomac River, according to Edward Kelly, general president of the International Association of Firefighters. Military personnel, park police and metropolitan police also joined the response.
The airport suspended all takeoffs and landings as emergency teams responded to the incident.
President Donald Trump said he had been briefed on what he called a “terrible accident” and praised the emergency services’ response.
U.S. Senator Ted Cruz said there were fatalities from the collision, though he did not disclose the source of his information.
American Airlines said in a statement it was “in contact with authorities and assisting with emergency response efforts,” adding that its primary concern was for the passengers and crew aboard the aircraft.
The FAA has launched an investigation into the cause of the collision.
