In a tragic turn of events, a US passenger plane carrying 64 people has crashed into Washington DC’s freezing Potomac River after colliding with a military helicopter. American Airlines flight 5342 was finishing its journey from Kansas and preparing to land at Reagan National Airport when it hit a Black Hawk helicopter conducting a nighttime training exercise.
The collision occurred at 8:48pm local time, prompting a swift and extensive emergency response. Divers, fireboats, and helicopters have been deployed to search for survivors in the icy waters of the Potomac. The Federal Aviation Administration has taken the precaution of grounding all flights at Reagan National Airport until 11am the following day.
American Airlines’ chief executive has expressed deep sorrow over the incident, while Kansas senator Roger Marshall described the collision as “nothing short of a nightmare.” This tragic event has brought back memories of a previous disaster at the same airport in January 1982, when Air Florida Flight 90 crashed into the Potomac River shortly after takeoff, resulting in the loss of 78 lives.
As the search continues for survivors and the investigation into the cause of the crash unfolds, the aviation community and the nation as a whole are left in shock and mourning. The repercussions of this tragic event will be felt for a long time to come.
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Video “LIVE: Washington plane crash – search for survivors after collision” was uploaded on 01/30/2025 to Youtube Channel The Times and The Sunday Times