Rescue boats and air crews rushed to the Potomac River late Wednesday after a passenger jet carrying 60 passengers collided midair with a military helicopter during the plane’s approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
All flights into the airport were stopped for the night as multiple agencies sent divers into the frigid waters to search for possible survivors.
Authorities have not reported any casualties at this time. A federal law enforcement source said a “few bodies” were pulled from the Potomac River.
The American Airlines said 60 passengers and four crew were on board the plane coming from Wichita, Kansas. U.S. Army officials said three people were on board the Blackhawk helicopter flying out of Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
“I have been fully briefed on the terrible accident which just took place at Reagan National Airport. May God Bless their souls,” President Trump said in a statement. “Thank you for the incredible work being done by our first responders. I am monitoring the situation and will provide more details as they arise.”
The Federal Aviation Administration said a PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional airliner jet collided with a Sirosky H-60 helicopter as it approached Runway 33 at Reagan National Airport.
According to the Associated Press, air traffic controllers asked the arriving commercial jet if it could land on the shorter Runway 33 and the pilots said they were able. Controllers then cleared the plane to land on Runway 33.
An air traffic controller asked the helicopter if it had the arriving plane in sight less than 30 seconds before the crash.
The controller made another radio call to the helicopter moments later: “PAT 25 pass behind the CRJ.” The two aircraft collided seconds later.
The plane’s radio transponder stopped transmitting about 2,400 feet short of the runway, roughly over the middle of the river.
The tower immediately began diverting other aircraft from Reagan.
Emergency crews initially said they were responding to a regional carrier going down in the Potomac River near the airport. The Coast Guard and authorities from the District, Virginia and Maryland are lining both sides of the river during the ongoing search.
A law enforcement source said mobile morgues were dispatched to the crash scene.
Hamaad Raza told WUSA-TV his wife was aboard the passenger jet and texted him about 20 minutes before it was supposed to land. He said his texts back to her were not delivered.
“I’m just praying that someone is pulling her out of the river right now as we speak,” Mr. Raza told the station.
Newly sworn-in Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said they are monitoring the situation.
The FAA said all flights into Reagan National are halted until 5 a.m.
• This story is based in part on wire service reports
• Matt Delaney can be reached at mdelaney@washingtontimes.com.
• Alex Swoyer can be reached at aswoyer@washingtontimes.com.