By james art 
Updated on January 29, 2025 at 23:02
A commercial aircraft was confronted with the Black Hawk helicopter as the plane was approaching the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport track on Wednesday night, according to federal aviation officials.
The incident happened as the aircraft operated by the PSA Airlines regional carrier on behalf of American Airlines was trying to land shortly before 9:00 pm.
There was no immediate word for the victims. But the incident can be the most significant disaster in US airspace for at least 15 years.
American Airlines said there are 60 passengers and four crew members aboard the aircraft, the CRJ-700. “Our concern is passengers and crew aboard the aircraft. We are in contact with the authorities and help responding efforts in emergencies,” the airline said.
The Pentagon told the NPR that the Black Hawk army helicopter has three soldiers on board and is outside Fort Belvoire, Virginia.
A webcam at the nearby Center for Performing Arts John F. Kennedy showed a small plane, probably a helicopter, colliding with a low altitude passenger plane, followed by a bright explosion. Radar tracking sites show that the passenger plane seems to have fallen into the Frigid Potomac River.
Jet, operating like American Eagle Flight 5342, had left Wichita, Kan.
DC Fire and EMS confirmed that a small plane crashed into the Potomak River near the airport, while helicopters and outbreaks rushed to the scene to seek survivors. “There are numerous partner agencies coordinating operation to search and rescue in the Potomak River,” according to a News by DC Fire and EMS and the Sofia Police Department.
The airspace in and around the DCA is complicated due to challenging approaches at the airport as well as the restrictions on flights over government buildings. This is a particularly loaded airspace with the flow of police and military helicopters operating in the area.
In a White House statement, President Trump said: “I was fully informed of the terrible incident that just happened at Reagan National Airport. May God bless their souls. Thank you for the incredible work done by our first answers. I watch the situation and will provide more details when they arise. ”
The last major commercial accident in a US plane happened in 2009 when a Colgan Air flight crashed near Buffalo, killing a total of 50 people (49 passengers and crew and one person in the House).
The FAA and the National Transport Safety Council will investigate.
This is a broken news and will be updated.
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