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| US President Donald Trump | Photo: AFP |
President Donald Trump has been briefed on the mid-air collision between a passenger plane and a military helicopter near Washington, DC. He described the incident as a ‘terrible accident’ and praised emergency responders for their ‘incredible’ efforts.
Trump assured that he is closely monitoring the situation and will provide further updates as more information becomes available.
The collision occurred at approximately 9 PM local time on Wednesday, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The PSA Airlines aircraft was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, while the U.S. Army’s Black Hawk helicopter had three military personnel on board.
Senator Ted Cruz of Texas confirmed that the crash resulted in casualties but did not specify the number. The collision happened near Reagan Washington National Airport, leading to a temporary suspension of all flights.
FAA officials reported that PSA Airlines Flight 5342 was en route from Kansas to Reagan National when it collided with the Black Hawk helicopter. PSA Airlines operates as a regional carrier for American Airlines, with aircraft typically seating up to 65 passengers.
The Pentagon has confirmed that one of its helicopters was involved in the accident. Authorities are actively investigating the cause of the mid-air collision.
Emergency teams, including divers, continue search-and-rescue operations in the Potomac River, where the wreckage of both aircraft was found.
Airport officials stated that all flight operations were temporarily halted following the incident.