No survivors after flight collides with US Army helicopter over Washington
A mid-air collision between an American Airlines plane carrying 64 people and a military helicopter over Washington, DC, has left no survivors, US authorities said Thursday. In remarks from the White House, President Donald Trump said the accident marked an “hour of anguish" for the nation before blaming the pilots, diversity and Barack Obama for the tragedy.
Everyone aboard American Airlines jet that collided with an Army helicopter while landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington is feared dead, US authorities Thursday.
The Wednesday crash prompted a large search-and-rescue operation in the nearby Potomac River. The jet was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members.
The Bombadier plane operated by an American Airlines subsidiary was approaching Reagan National Airport at around 9pm (02:00 GMT) after flying from Wichita, Kansas, when the collision happened.
US Army officials said the helicopter involved was a Black Hawk carrying three soldiers on a "training flight".
Washington Fire Chief John Donnelly told a press briefing that emergency crews, totaling about 300 people, were working in "extremely rough" conditions and gave little indication they expected to find anyone alive.
At least 28 bodies have so far been recovered from the water, officials said.
"We're going to be out there as long as it takes," Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser told reporters.
The Federal Aviation Administration ordered the grounding of all planes at Reagan National until 11am local time.
"It looked like a Roman candle."
Trump blames air-traffic control, diversity, Obama
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