Plane and Helicopter Crash Over Potomac River: 19 Bodies Found
A terrible accident happened near Reagan National Airport when a passenger plane and a military helicopter crashed into each other in the sky. The crash happened over the Potomac River, and rescuers are now searching the freezing water for survivors.
What Occurred?
American Airlines Flight 5342 was the passenger plane flying from Wichita, Kansas, to Washington, DC. It had 64 people on board. The helicopter was a US Army Black Hawk with three soldiers inside.
The two planes hit each other in mid-air, plummeting both of them into the river, officials report. The plane broke into pieces, and the helicopter sank in the water as well near this place.
Rescue Efforts: Nearly 300 emergency workers combed through the scene for survivors. So far, they only discovered bodies. Officials said sad, 19 bodies were brought in, and it is unlikely there are survivors.
Airport ShutdownReagan National Airport is shut down until at least 11 a.m. Thursday due to the crash. Authorities are determining the cause of the accident.
Who Was on the Plane?
Various sources cite that several members of the figure skating community were passengers on the plane. US Figure Skating and Russian media have corroborated this piece of information, though the rest of it is still coming in.
Reaction from the President
Former President Donald Trump reacted to the crash, terming it "a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented." However, it is not clear if he had official information when he made this statement.
The authorities will continue to search the river and investigate how this tragic accident happened.
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