- Airplane crashed into Washington’s Potomac Rover after collision.
- “We know there are fatalities,” says Senator Ted Cruz.
- Operations halted as emergency personnel responded to incident.
At least 18 people have been reported dead after a passenger jet collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter above Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday night, Fox News reported.
Senator Ted Cruz of Texas said on social media that “we know there are fatalities,” though he did not say how many.
The US Federal Aviation Administration said a PSA Airlines regional jet collided midair with a Black Hawk helicopter while on approach to Reagan. A US Army official confirmed that one of its helicopters was involved in the crash.
PSA was operating Flight 5342 for American Airlines, which had departed from Wichita, Kansas, according to the FAA. According to American Airlines’ website, the jet can carry up to 65 passengers.
Police said multiple agencies were involved in a search and rescue operation in the Potomac River, which borders the airport.
The airport said late on Wednesday that all takeoffs and landings had been halted as emergency personnel responded to an aircraft incident.
The National Transportation Safety Board said it was gathering more information on the incident.
There has not been a fatal US passenger airplane accident since February 2009, but a series of near-miss incidents in recent years have raised serious safety concerns.
American Airlines said on social media that it was “aware of reports that American Eagle flight 5342, operated by PSA, with service from Wichita, Kansas (ICT) to Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA) has been involved in an incident.”
American Airlines said 60 passengers and four crew members were aboard the commercial jet.
“American Eagle Flight 5342 en route from Wichita, Kansas (ICT), to Washington, D.C. (DCA) was involved in an accident at DCA,” the airline said in a statement. “There were 60 passengers and four crew members on board the aircraft.”
Three soldiers were aboard the helicopter, a US official said.
Additionally, The Washington Post said multiple bodies had been pulled from the water while NBC reported that four people had been pulled alive from the Potomac River.
Sara Nelson, president of Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, which represents flight attendants of American Airlines regional subsidiary PSA, said: “Our union is responding to the tragic midair collision of PSA Flight 5342 with a military helicopter. Two AFA Flight Attendants were crewing the flight.
“While we mobilize to support the families and crews directly affected by this incident, we are also sending strength to all first responders doing everything they can to bring survivors to safety.”
The Air Line Pilots Association, which represents PSA pilots, said: “We are shocked and saddened by the tragic accident at DCA tonight. Our thoughts are with those affected by this tragedy and ALPA’s accident investigation team is responding to assist the National Transportation Safety Board in their investigation.”
