A passenger plane carrying 64 passengers and crew collided in the air with the US Army Helicopter and fell to the photo river in the Washington DC region.
According to the law enforcement agency, at least 19 bodies have been pulled out of the river so far. Figure skaters in the United States and Russia are known to have boarded the plane when an accident occurred.
The search and rescue teams are wiping the water at the frozen temperatures through night.
The nearby Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is temporarily closed as the authorities investigate what happened.
What is it?
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the PSA airline jet, operated by US Airlines 5342 on Wednesday 21:00 (02:00 GMT), collided with the US Army Helicopter, approaching Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
The passenger plane broke several pieces of pieces and sank several feet to the river, and the helicopter ended upside down on the water.
American Airlines says the Bombardier CRJ700 has a flight from Kansas, with 60 passengers and four crews, American Airlines said.
The Ministry of Defense said the relevant helicopter is a Portbellboy in Virginia as Hanshi Corski H-60.
Muriel Bowser, a Washington DC market, said three American soldiers boarded. Another official is on training and belongs to the 12th Aviation Battalion of Virginia’s Fort Belvoir.
Clips published online and reviewed by CNN are reviewed to capture aviation traffic control dialogue at the moment of collision. The controller can hear a helicopter warning about the plane, but it has not been replyed. Audio was not confirmed by the BBC.
The FAA said it will investigate the case with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
Was there a casualty?
According to the law enforcement agency that is familiar with the survey, CBS said at least 19 bodies were recovered in the river. However, officials said they did not confirm such reports, but are focusing on rescue efforts.
“Some members of the skating community were sadly on board,” said the US figure skating. The group said it consists of athletes, coaches and families who returned home from Kansas’ development camp.
Russia said that two citizens, ice skating coaches and world champions YEVGENIA Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were also on the plane.
John Donelly, head of Washington, DC Fire and Emergency Service, said that about 300 respondents were deployed to find survivors in rubber boats. “Challenge is called approach, wind, ice piece (in water). Dangerous and difficult to work.”
What does witnesses mean?
Ari Schulman said he saw a plane crash while driving on the NBC Washington, which runs along the airport.
He said that the approach of the plane seemed to be normal until the aircraft bank was difficult to the right, and the “Spark Stream” was stretched underneath.
At that point, he said that it seemed “it seemed very wrong.” He said that after seeing the plane landing in the past, the bottom of the plane should not be seen in the dark.
He said Spark was similar to “huge Roman candles” and went to the tail from the airplane’s nose.
Jimmy Mazeo said he had a conflict while dinner with his girlfriend in a park near the airport.
He recalled that he looked like “white flare” in the sky. He said that the flight flying to Ronald Reagan airport seems to be flying with “irregular patterns.”
Mazeo said he didn’t think much of what he saw until the emergency service began to arrive.
What are American officials saying?
President Donald Trump said he had completely briefed about “terrible accidents” and was closely monitoring the situation.
“I hope God bless their souls.” “Thank you for the amazing work done by the first respondents.
In his truth social media account, he wrote: he questioned how the case happened. “This is a bad situation that seems to be prevented. Not good !!!”
JD Vance Vice President asked for prayer for those in the case.
Sean Duffy, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Transport, said that the promise has been confirmed and is monitoring the situation.
Duffy asked if the flight path near Ronald Reagan Airport would change after the incident. “If you need it, you will take appropriate action,” he said. He added: “There will be a review of what happened here tonight.”
Robert ISOM, the CEO of American Airlines, expressed “deep sorrow” about the conflict of the video posted on the airline website.
It was reversed by Roger Marshall, a US senator who represents Kansas, where the plane traveled. He explained “heartbreaking other than measurement.”
