Washington, D.C. Plane and Helicopter Crash: No Survivors Expected – BBC Reports

A tragic mid-air crash near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport has left no survivors, according to BBC. On Wednesday evening, a passenger plane carrying 64 people collided with a U.S. Army helicopter, causing both aircraft to fall into the Potomac River. Officials told BBC that recovery efforts are now underway.

BBC explains that the crashed plane was a Bombardier CRJ700 operated by PSA Airlines for American Airlines Flight 5342. It had taken off from Wichita, Kansas, with 60 passengers and four crew members. The helicopter, a Sikorsky H-60 Black Hawk, had three U.S. soldiers on board. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth described the helicopter crew as “fairly experienced.” Sadly, officials believe everyone on board both aircraft has died.

According to BBC, among those on the passenger plane were figure skaters from the U.S. and Russia. U.S. Figure Skating and a Boston-based club confirmed that some athletes, coaches, and family members were returning home from a training camp in Kansas. Russian media also reported that former world champion figure skaters Yevgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were on the flight.

Authorities told BBC that air traffic controllers had tried to warn the helicopter about the incoming plane just before the collision.

A recording suggests that the helicopter pilot acknowledged the warning, but moments later, the crash happened. The passenger plane broke into several pieces and sank into the freezing river, while the helicopter landed upside down on the water.

So far, BBC reports that 27 bodies have been recovered from the plane and one from the helicopter. A law enforcement official told CBS that at least 30 bodies have been found in total.

More than 300 emergency responders are working in difficult conditions, with icy water and strong winds making the search dangerous.

BBC highlights that the U.S. has a strong air safety record, and crashes like this are rare. The last major similar accident was in 2009, when a plane crashed near Buffalo, New York, killing 50 people.

The airspace over Washington, D.C., is particularly complex because it handles both civilian and military flights. Passenger planes follow strict flight paths, while military pilots must “see and avoid” other aircraft.

In a press conference on Thursday, President Trump expressed sorrow over the crash, saying the country is “in mourning,” BBC reports.

However, he also used the moment to criticize past government hiring practices, claiming they had lowered air traffic control standards.

He announced that Chris Rocheleau would temporarily lead the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which has had vacant leadership positions since Trump took office.

Eyewitnesses described terrifying scenes to BBC. Ari Schulman, who was driving near the airport, saw the plane tilt sharply before sparks shot from its underside, lighting up the night sky.

Another witness, Jimmy Mazeo, saw what looked like a “white flare” in the sky while dining near the airport. He only realized the seriousness of the event when emergency vehicles rushed to the scene.

With the investigation just beginning, BBC notes that officials will examine whether the helicopter was flying at the correct altitude and in the right airspace. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will lead the inquiry.

For now, families and communities are grieving the loss of those on board, and emergency teams continue working in the cold waters of the Potomac to recover victims.

Credit : BBC

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g9kdgzj91o

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