A tragic midair collision occurred over the Potomac River in Washington, DC, involving an American Airlines passenger plane and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter. The collision resulted in the deaths of all 67 people on board both aircraft.
The American Airlines plane, carrying 64 people, collided with a Black Hawk helicopter with three soldiers on board. The crash happened near Reagan National Airport, and both aircraft ended up in the Potomac River.
DC Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly announced that the operation has shifted from rescue to recovery, with 28 bodies recovered from the passenger jet and one from the helicopter. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy reported that the plane's fuselage was found in three sections, submerged in the river.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are investigating the incident. American Airlines CEO Robert Isom suggested the military helicopter may have been at fault. President Donald Trump expressed condolences to the victims' families.
The collision led to the closure of Reagan National Airport, with flights diverted to Dulles International Airport. The airport remained closed until at least 11 am ET the following day.
The Potomac River is a big river in the United States that flows through Washington, DC. It's an important river because it passes by the capital city of the USA.
American Airlines is a large airline company in the United States. They have many airplanes that fly people to different places around the world.
A US Army Black Hawk helicopter is a type of helicopter used by the United States Army. It's often used for transporting soldiers and equipment.
NTSB stands for National Transportation Safety Board. It's a group in the USA that investigates accidents involving planes, trains, and other vehicles to find out what happened.
FAA stands for Federal Aviation Administration. It's a government agency in the USA that makes rules to keep flying safe and checks that everyone follows them.
Reagan National Airport is an airport near Washington, DC. It's named after a former US president, Ronald Reagan, and is used for many flights in and out of the capital.
Dulles International Airport is another airport near Washington, DC. It's bigger than Reagan National Airport and handles many international flights.
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *