A mid-air collision between an American Airlines passenger jet and a U.S. Army helicopter over the Potomac River near Washington, D.C., has claimed at least 19 lives.
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The accident occurred on Wednesday evening and involved American Airlines Flight 5342, a Bombardier CRJ700, which had departed from Wichita, Kansas, carrying 60 passengers and four crew members. The aircraft plunged into the river after colliding with the helicopter, while the military aircraft flipped upside down upon impact.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched an investigation into the crash. More than 300 rescue personnel in rubber boats have been combing the freezing waters in search of survivors.
US Figure Skating confirmed that several members of its community, including athletes, coaches, and their families, were on board. Russian citizens were also among the passengers.
President Donald Trump expressed his condolences, stating, “May God bless their souls.” American Airlines CEO Robert Isom also shared his sorrow, describing the tragedy as “deeply heartbreaking.”
Ari Schulman, who witnessed the crash, said the plane initially appeared to be flying normally before making a sharp right turn, with “streams of sparks” trailing beneath it.
Another witness, Jimmy Mazeo, reported seeing a “white flare” in the sky, followed by planes flying in “irregular patterns” before the collision.
