A devastating plane crash occurred near Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington DC, prompting a massive search and rescue operation in the Potomac River. The incident involved a midair collision between a US Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines passenger plane, resulting in multiple fatalities and widespread emergency response efforts.
The plane crash was reported shortly after 9:30 pm local time on Wednesday, when the American Airlines flight, carrying 64 people, collided with the Sikorsky H-60 helicopter. The passenger plane was approaching the runway at Reagan Airport, en route from Wichita, Kansas, while the helicopter was flying south on a training mission after taking off from Fort Belvoir. The collision occurred just north of the airport, sending both aircraft into the Potomac River.
Authorities confirmed that the plane crash involved an American Airlines flight with 60 passengers and four crew members on board. The helicopter, identified as a Black Hawk, had three soldiers. Emergency personnel, including divers and rescue teams, are working tirelessly to retrieve survivors from the wreckage, which remains submerged in the river. The Potomac River, where the plane crash occurred, is approximately 2.4 meters deep in the area of the collision.
Air traffic control recordings revealed that controllers had instructed the helicopter to pass behind the landing plane and asked if the crew had the aircraft in sight. A crew member on the helicopter reportedly confirmed visual contact and requested “visual separation,” which was approved by controllers. Moments later, chaos ensued, and the collision occurred. The audio recordings captured the commotion, followed by controllers diverting other aircraft away from the disaster scene.
Reagan Airport, located in the heart of Washington DC, is one of the most tightly controlled airspaces in the United States due to its proximity to critical government buildings, including the White House. The airport immediately halted all take-offs and landings following the plane crash, and operations are expected to resume at 11 am on Thursday. Passengers on other planes were allowed to disembark as the airport remained closed overnight.
The plane crash has left families anxiously awaiting news of their loved ones. Hamaad Raza, who was waiting at the airport for his wife, shared his distress with local media. “She texted me that she was landing in 20 minutes,” he said. “The rest of my text didn’t get delivered. That’s when I realized something might be up. I’m just praying that someone is pulling her out of the river right now.”
Emergency responders have set up light towers along the George Washington Parkway to illuminate the search area. Over 300 personnel, including police and fire rescue teams, are involved in the operation. Washington DC Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly confirmed that divers are searching both aircraft in the river. “This incident has grown, and there is currently about 300 responders working,” he said. “We have boats from all throughout the region. We will re-evaluate the situation in the morning, but we are out there tonight and we are working.”
At an official press conference, authorities did not confirm any fatalities, and DC Mayor Muriel Bowser declined to comment on whether any bodies had been recovered. American Airlines CEO Robert Isom expressed the company’s concern for the passengers and crew, stating that a hotline had been established for families seeking information about their loved ones.
The plane crash has drawn significant attention due to its location and the involvement of both civilian and military aircraft. As the search and rescue operation continues, authorities are focused on locating survivors and investigating the cause of the collision. The incident serves as a grim reminder of the complexities of air traffic control in one of the busiest and most restricted airspaces in the nation.
