A passenger plane carrying 64 passengers and crew has crashed into a river in Washington DC after it collided in mid-air with a US Army helicopter. Eighteen bodies have been pulled from the Potomac River so far, where search and rescue teams are scouring the waters in freezing temperatures, according to the BBC’s broadcast partner, CBS.
US authorities are investigating and the nearby Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport has grounded all flights.
At around 21:00 local time (02:00 GMT) on Wednesday, a PSA Airlines jet operating as American Airlines 5432 collided with a US Army helicopter as it approached Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
The passenger plane, a Bombardier CRJ700, departed from Wichita, Kansas and was carrying 60 passengers and four crew, according to American Airlines.
The Pentagon said the helicopter involved was a Sikorsky H-60 that took off from Fort Belvoir in Virginia. Three US soldiers were on board, according to CBS.
The FAA said it would investigate the incident, together with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
There has been no official word on casualties. However, CBS reported that 18 bodies have been pulled from the water.
Early reports on US media said the passenger plane could be seen split in half on the Potomac River, while the helicopter was upside down in the water.
Police and fire department have been searching the water for survivors in freezing temperatures, with police boats assisting, CBS News reported.
The search and rescue could be seen from Ronald Reagan Airport, which is near the river.
President Donald Trump said he had been fully briefed on the the “terrible accident” and that he was monitoring the situation closely.
“May God Bless their souls,” he said in a statement.
“Thank you for the incredible work being done by our first responders,” he said.
Vice-President JD Vance asked for prayers for those who were in the incident.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, whose appointments were just recently confirmed, also said they were monitoring the situation.
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom expressed his “deep sorrow” about the collision in a video which has been posted to the airline’s website.
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