An American Airlines plane collided with a military helicopter near Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington DC, and both aircraft crashed into the Potomac River on Wednesday night.
The commercial plane was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, while three US Army soldiers were onboard the Black Hawk helicopter, according to a CBS News official.
Authorities have not yet provided an official death toll, but CBS News reported that at least 19 bodies have been recovered, according to police.
The Federal Aviation Administration of the United States reported that the Bombardier CRJ700 regional plane collided with the helicopter as it approached the runway around 9:00 pm local time (02:00 GMT on Thursday).
Flight 5342 of American Airlines was traveling from Wichita, Kansas, to Washington DC.
“Our concern is for the passengers and crew on board the plane,” American Airlines said in a statement. “We are in contact with authorities and assisting with emergency response efforts.”
The airline’s CEO, Robert Isom, expressed his “deep sorrow” over the crash in a video posted on the company’s website.
In a press conference from the airport, Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser described the event as “very tragic.”
Bowser explained that emergency services throughout the Washington metropolitan area are “working diligently” in “very dark and cold conditions” to carry out the rescue operation in the Potomac River after the plane crash.
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The causes of the crash are still under investigation, and President Donald Trump has expressed his condolences to the victims and their families. Various government agencies and organizations are involved in the rescue operation, and the National Transportation Safety Board will also investigate the incident.
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