“The tragic collision of the plane and helicopter in Washington: At least 18 people died the American Airlines aircraft collided with the Black Hawk Military Helicopter near the Reagan Airport, both fell into Photocus River. At least 18 dead were confirmed, 67 people were on board.”, – WRITE ON: Unn.ua
The American Airlines Regional Passenger Aircraft and the Black Hawk military helicopter collided in the air near the Washington Reagan National Airport on Wednesday night, after which both aircraft fell into the cold waters of Potatoak River.
Officials have not yet reported the number of victims. However, US senator Roger Marshall from Kansas, where the plane flew, suggested that no one survived on board. During a press conference at Reagan Airport early in the morning on Thursday, he noted that “it is probably more than 60 Kansas residents at the same time, it is really painful.”
“When one person is dying, it is a tragedy, but when many, many people die, many people are unbearable grief,” he said. “It’s a broken heart that is not amenable to measure.”
The President and Chief Executive Director of Washington Airports Directorate Jack Potter stressed the press conference that the rescue operation continues.
According to CBS News, at least 18 bodies have already been found, referring to a police representative. Two sources reported Reuters that a significant number of dead had been pulled out of the water. US airlines confirmed that 64 people were on board a passenger aircraft, including 60 passengers and four crew members. According to American officials, there were three soldiers in the helicopter who was performing the training flight.
The collision occurred during the event of a passenger plane flying from the Growing, Kansas, for landing at Reagan Airport. Records of radio communication between the control tower and the Black Hawk crew indicate that the military knew about the approach of the aircraft.
The Pentagon announced the immediate beginning of the investigation of the accident. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump in a post on the Truth Social Network put responsibility for the incident on the crew of the helicopter and airline.
“The helicopter flew right on the plane for a long period of time. It’s a clear night, the lights on the plane were burning, why the helicopter didn’t go up or down or turned. Why did the dispatching tower not told the helicopter what to do instead of asking if they see if they see if they see if they see if they see if they see if they see if They are a bad situation that looks as if it were to be prevented.
Air Traffic Records recorded the last attempt of the dispatcher to contact the helicopter with the call sign PAT25 before contact with the CRJ passenger plane.
A few seconds, another pilot, which was in the air, asked the dispatching tower with an alarming question: “Tower, did you see it?” Obviously hinting at the disaster. In response, the dispatcher began to redirect the planes that went to land on the runway 33 to avoid a dangerous situation.
Recall
In the sky above Washington, a regional passenger aircraft American Airlines and the UH-60 Black Hawk military helicopter collided in the air, after which both aircraft fell into the Potomac River near the Reagan National Airport.