Featured Image Credit: ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images
Topics: US News, Travel, American Airlines , Donald Trump
Topics: US News, Travel, American Airlines , Donald Trump
Emergency services have been working around the clock after an American Airlines plane and a US army helicopter crashed mid-air over Washington DC, with both aircraft plummeting into the Potomac River.
The incident happened at around 9.00pm local time on Wednesday (29 January), with President Donald Trump calling the incident a 'terrible accident'.
The plane, operating as American Airlines 5432, had been landing at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport near DC when the tragic incident occurred.
Confirmed to be a Bombardier CRJ-701 twin-engine jet, the plane was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, while the helicopter had three soldiers on board.
In a statement late on Wednesday, President Trump thanked first responders for their 'incredible work,' noting that he was 'monitoring the situation and will provide more details as they arise'.
The CEO of American Airlines, Robert Isom, has also spoken out on the incident, expressing his 'deepest sorrow' over what had happened.
Washington Fire and EMS chief John A Donnelly said at the early Thursday news conference that conditions are 'extremely rough for responders', with cold weather and intense wind. The Potomac River is about eight feet deep where the aircraft crashed after the collision.
“The water is dark. It is murky,” Donnelly added.
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport will remain closed until at least 5.00pm on Friday, the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement.
The plane had been approaching the airport for landing when it collided with the military helicopter, which had been on a training flight and was also on approach to the airport for landing.
It occurred in some of the most tightly controlled and monitored airspace in the world, just over three miles south of the White House and the Capitol.
In an update from DC Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly, he said they don't expect to find any survivors from the incident.
For the latest updates on this tragic incident, see below.
Figure skaters on the plane
No survivors expected
Harrowing footage of the crash
19 bodies recovered from the river
Donald Trump questions incident
Air traffic control audio released
30 bodies recovered
In a press conference update from Washington DC Fire and EMS Chief, John Donnelly, he said there is no expectation to find any survivors.
He said: "We don't believe there are any survivors from this accident."
Donnelly added that 'all of us are working together to search the area and find all the victims', stressing it will 'tale us a little bit of time and we may need more equipment'.
According to local outlet NBC4, the death toll now stands at more than 30. The outlet has been told this by two sources 'familiar with search efforts'.
A temporary morgue has been established for those whose remains have been recovered from the Potomac River. Screens and sheets are in place for dignity and privacy reasons.
Images from the Potomac River show just how devastating the crash between American Airlines flight 5342 and the military helicopter was.
With emergency service recovery crews anchored around it, they have been working around the clock in their attempts to find survivors.
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A lot has happened overnight as emergency services continue to search for survivors of the crash over the Potomac River at Washington DC.
Here is everything we know right now concerning the crash, what caused it, casualties, and what happens next.
Speaking to the BBC, Former RAF pilot and broadcaster George Bacon said military are expected to avoid passenger planes.
Despite flying close to commercial aircraft on a regular basis, the responsibility of 'see and avoid' is stressed to military personnel.
Bacon said: "The military regulate themselves and pilots can choose to fly where they want and need to. In controlled airspace like this, they would still have freedom to take avoiding action, but they would be following the direction of the controller.
"The emphasis is that they must look - it's known as 'see and avoid'.
"It's not unusual for military helicopters to be in such close proximity to commercial aircraft. Investigators will establish what's happened and if there are lessons to be learned, there will be an amendment to the procedures."
This happened back in 2009 near Buffalo, New York. Everyone on the Bombardier DHC-8 propeller plane was killed.
That included 45 passengers, two pilots and two flight attendants.
Another person on the ground also died, bringing the total death toll to 50. An investigation determined that the captain accidentally caused the plane to stall as it approached the airport in Buffalo.
Harrowing footage of the crash was captured by webcam network EarthCam.
The video shows a ball of fire erupt in the skies above the Potomac River. A team of 300 emergency service responders are now working on the rescue operation.
Russian news agency TASS has reported that Russian figure skaters Yevgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were both on the flight. They became world champions in the pairs figure skating back in 1994.
US Figure Skating has also issued a statement confirming several of its athletes were on the plane that plunged into the Potomac River.
It said: "These athletes, coaches, and family members were returning home from the National Development Camp held in conjunction with the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas. We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts. We will continue to monitor the situation and will release more information as it becomes available."
Robert Isom, the CEO of American Airlines, has issued a statement on the incident in Washington DC.
"This is a difficult day for all of us at American Airlines and our efforts now are focused entirely on the needs of our passengers, crew members, partners, first responders, along with their families and loved ones," he said.
A statement from President Donald Trump said it 'looks like' the collision 'should have been prevented'.
He posted on social media platform Truth Social: "The airplane was on a perfect and routine line of approach to the airport.
"The helicopter was going straight at the airplane for an extended period of time. It is a CLEAR NIGHT, the lights on the plane were blazing, why didn't the helicopter go up or down, or turn.
"Why didn't the control tower tell the helicopter what to do instead of asking if they saw the plane. This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented. NOT GOOD!!!"
Tragically at least 19 bodies have now been recovered after the jet crashed in to the Potomac River next to Ronald Reagan National Airport.
Officials have said no survivors have been found at this stage, CBS has reported.
Audio of air traffic control at Ronald Reagan National Airport has been released on the incident.
"The accident happened in the river," an official can be heard saying in the audio obtained by NBC.
"Both the helicopter and the plane crashed in the river."
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