A regional jet carrying 60 passengers and four crew members collided with a military helicopter on Wednesday night as it approached Reagan National Airport.
The flight was en route from Witchita, Kansas to Washington, D.C., American Airlines said in a statement.
“Our concern is for the passengers and crew on board the aircraft. We are in contact with authorities and assisting with emergency response efforts,” the airline said.
The regional jet collided in mid-air with the helicopter while on approach to Runway 33 at the airport around 9 p.m. local time, the FAA said in a statement to The Hill.
The agency said it will investigate the incident alongside the National Transportation Safety Board.
An Army UH-60 helicopter out of Fort Belvoir, Virginia, was the helicopter involved in the crash, the Army confirmed in a statement to The Hill.
In a X post, the Washington police department said a multi-agency response is underway.
The police department stated that reports of the crash were first reported at around 8:53 p.m. local time. The department said there are no updates on casualties as of about 10 p.m.
However, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz (R) said in a post there were fatalities in the crash but did not know how many. He added that he would receive a briefing from the FAA on Thursday.
“Please join Heidi and me in praying for all involved as the search and rescue is underway,” Cruz said.
American Airlines CEO Rober Isom said in a video that the airline was “cooperating fully” with authorities and the National Transportation Board’s investigation into what happened.
“Anything we can do now, we’re doing. And right now, that means focusing on taking care of all passengers and crew involved as well as their families,” Isom said, adding that the airlines had created a hotline for people who believed their family or loved ones were on the flight.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed on Fox News on Wednesday night that the crash was the result of a military helicopter and regional jet collision.
She also added that President Trump has been made aware of the situation, joining Fox for a previously scheduled interview just minutes after news reports of the crash.
“Tragically it appears that a military helicopter collided with a regional jet at DCA airport right here in Washington, D.C. That’s all I can confirm at this point in time,” Leavitt said.
“The thoughts and the prayers of the entire Trump administration are with all those who are involved and we ask the public in this area to please stand for guidance from law enforcement and allow them to do their job as they attempt to save lives right now,” she added.
Trump confirmed in a statement that he had been briefed about the crash and was monitoring the situation.
“May God Bless their souls. Thank you for the incredible work being done by our first responders,” Trump said in the statement.
Transportation Sec. Sean Duffy, who was just confirmed to his Cabinet post on Tuesday, said in a statement Wednesday night that he is “on site at the FAA HQ and closely monitoring the situation.”
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said “every available U.S. Coast Guard resource” was being deployed for search and rescue efforts.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the Department of Defense was “actively monitoring. Poised to assist if needed.”
Vice President Vance in a Wednesday night post said he was monitoring the situation and asked to “hope for the best.”
“Please say a prayer for everyone involved in the mid-air collision near Reagan airport this evening,” Vance said.
In a post on the social media platform X, the DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department confirmed that a small aircraft had gone down in the Potomac River near the airport in Virginia.
“Fireboats on the scene,” the post also said.
Reagan National Airport said in a post on X, “takeoffs and landings have been halted” and emergency personnel were responding to an “aircraft incident on the airfield. The terminal remains open. Will update.”
“I’ve seen the reports of a collision with a D.C. helicopter and an inbound flight from Wichita, KS,” Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) said on X Wednesday night. “We are in contact with authorities working to get answers. We ask you to join us in prayer for every single passenger and their families.”
Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) also said on X that he was finding out “that a plane inbound from Kansas was involved in a crash at DCA.”
“I am in contact with authorities,” he added. “Please join me in praying for all involved.”
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly said she was aware of the crash and was actively in contact with authorities.
“My thoughts go out to those involved. I will share more information as it becomes available,” Kelly said in a post on X.
The Hill has reached out to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority for comment.
This story is developing.
Updated at 12:08 a.m. EST
Ellen Mitchell contributed to this report.
#Regional #jet #carrying #military #helicopter #collide #Reagan #National #Airport
Leave a Reply