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Ronald Reagan nationwide airport halts all takeoffs and landings following midair collision.
A regional jet carrying dozens of passengers and a navy helicopter have collided midair close to Washington, DC, america, elevating fears of mass casualties and forcing a halt to all takeoffs and landings at Ronald Reagan Washington nationwide airport.
US President Donald Trump stated late on Wednesday he had been briefed on the “horrible accident”.
“Might God bless their souls. Thanks for the unbelievable work being carried out by our first responders,” he stated in a press release. “I’m monitoring the scenario and can present extra particulars as they come up.”
The PSA Airways Bombardier CRJ700 jet collided with a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter at round 9pm native time whereas en route from Wichita, Kansas, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stated.
“PSA was working as Flight 5342 for American Airways. It departed from Wichita, Kansas,” the FAA stated in a press release.
“The FAA and NTSB will examine. The NTSB will lead the investigation,” the aviation company added, referring to the Nationwide Transportation Security Board.
Police and fireplace companies stated a multi-agency search and rescue operation was beneath manner within the Potomac River.
“Fireboats on scene,” the District of Columbia Fireplace and Emergency Medical Providers Division stated in a put up on X.
Al Jazeera’s Shihab Rattansi, reporting from Washington, DC, stated there was an “monumental response” on the scene of the crash, together with emergency autos and boats.
“We needs to be very clear, that is the primary native airport serving the Washington, DC, metropolitan space,” Rattansi stated.
“We consider that each of these plane are within the river,” Rattansi stated. “So that’s of monumental concern now.”
Video posted on social media appeared to indicate the 2 plane collide and explode into flames.
There was no rapid affirmation of the variety of casualties.
US Senator Roger Marshall, who represents Kansas, stated the plane had been carrying “roughly 60 passengers”.
“My prayer is that God wraps his arms round each sufferer and that he continues to be with their households. There are not any phrases that may make telling this story any simpler,” Marshall stated on X.
“I ask the world to affix me in praying for Kansas this night, the primary responders, rescue crews, and all these concerned on this horrific accident.”
The Canadian-made Bombardier CRJ700 has a most capability of 78 passengers, in response to plane brokerage JetSet Group.
The US military confirmed that its helicopter was carrying three personnel. The Sikorsky H-60 can carry as much as 11 absolutely outfitted troopers, in response to the positioning Army.com.
Ronald Reagan Washington nationwide airport, positioned in Crystal Metropolis, Virginia, is the closest airport to Washington, DC, mendacity lower than 5 miles from the US capital.
