Tragic Collision Between American Eagle Plane and Army Black Hawk Helicopter in Washington Claims Multiple Lives.
WASHINGTON:
A catastrophic aviation incident occurred Wednesday night, when a commercial American Eagle plane collided mid-air with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter just moments before the plane was set to land at Reagan National Airport. The crash, which occurred just before 9 p.m. over the Potomac River, has left no survivors, marking one of the deadliest aviation tragedies in recent U.S. history.
U.S. President Donald Trump addressed the nation in a somber White House press conference, confirming the details of the incident. According to President Trump, both aircraft were completely submerged in the icy waters of the Potomac River following the crash. “A real tragedy,” Trump said, describing the intense search and rescue operation that spanned throughout the night, ultimately transitioning into a recovery mission. Tragically, no survivors were found.
The American Eagle flight, operating as a regional jet for American Airlines, was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members on a flight from Wichita, Kansas. The Black Hawk helicopter, operated by the U.S. Army, was carrying three military service members at the time of the collision.
Washington D.C. Fire Chief John Donnelly updated the public Thursday morning, revealing that rescue teams had recovered 27 bodies from the American Eagle plane and one from the helicopter. Efforts are ongoing to recover any additional victims.
The president mentioned that passengers on the plane included nationals from various countries, including Russia. “We have a Russia contingent, some very talented people, unfortunately, were on that plane,” President Trump said, confirming that the U.S. is in contact with Russian officials to facilitate the return of the bodies to their families. Trump also mentioned that other nations’ citizens were aboard, with further announcements expected in the coming hours.
In his comments, Trump expressed deep grief, saying, “We are one family, and today we are all heartbroken. We are all searching for answers.” He also noted the challenging conditions, with the icy waters of the Potomac making the recovery operation even more difficult.
The president speculated that a possible cause of the crash could be related to an elevation issue between the helicopter and the plane. He suggested that the two aircraft may have been flying at the same altitude, contributing to the tragic collision. “There’s never going to be a tragedy if you’re at a different elevation,” Trump said, further asserting that the presence of the helicopter in the air traffic plane’s flight path was a key factor in the crash.
In a controversial statement, Trump pointed to the aviation policies under the Obama and Biden administrations, claiming that changes made after his presidency allowed lower standards for air traffic controllers, which may have played a role in the accident. “I put safety first, Obama, Biden, and the Democrats put policy first,” he said, criticizing the previous administrations’ focus on political agendas.
At present, investigations are underway to determine the exact cause of the collision, with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) expected to release further findings in the coming weeks.
The nation continues to mourn the loss of those onboard, and authorities remain committed to recovering the remaining bodies and providing closure to the victims’ families.
