A devastating collision between a passenger plane and a helicopter occurred on Wednesday evening near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The accident, which happened at approximately 21:00 local time (02:00 GMT), resulted in the passenger plane plunging into the Potomac River and the helicopter overturning on the water. Tragically, no survivors are expected from either aircraft.
The passenger plane, a Bombardier CRJ700 operated by American Airlines, had taken off from Wichita, Kansas. It was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members at the time of the crash. Meanwhile, the helicopter, identified as a Sikorsky H-60, belonged to B Company, 12th Aviation Battalion, and had three soldiers onboard. Departing from Fort Belvoir in Virginia, the helicopter's crew was described as "fairly experienced" by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Preliminary reports indicate that the helicopter pilot acknowledged the presence of the plane moments before the collision occurred. Despite this, both aircraft tragically collided over the busy and highly controlled airspace above Washington DC. The crash resulted in the plane breaking into several pieces as it sank into the river, while the helicopter ended up inverted on the water.
Rescue teams have thus far recovered 27 bodies from the wreckage of the plane and one from the helicopter. The recovery operations continue as investigators work diligently to determine the sequence of events that led to this tragic incident.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) launched a full-scale investigation on Thursday. They aim to release a preliminary report within 30 days, providing more detailed insights into the factors contributing to this catastrophic event.
The airspace over Washington DC is notoriously congested, demanding strict adherence to fixed flight plans for passenger airliners. BBC's transport correspondent Sean Dilley highlighted the complexities involved in navigating such a tightly regulated area. In light of these challenges, questions have arisen regarding how such a collision could occur despite stringent air traffic controls.
This incident marks the first significant crash of its kind since 2009, according to data compiled by Reuters. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has faced criticism over its management of airspace safety protocols following the collision. President Trump has suggested that aviation standards may have deteriorated under the previous administration led by former President Joe Biden.
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