All flights grounded at Reagan Washington National Airport
Following the crash, all flights were grounded Wednesday night at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), which is located in Arlington, Virginia, just outside Washington, D.C. An announcement at the airport said it will not reopen before 5 a.m. Thursday. All passengers with grounded flights have been directed to rebook.
President Trump briefed on crash, releases statement
The White House released a statement from President Trump Wednesday night. He said:
“I have been fully briefed on the terrible accident which just took place at Reagan National Airport. May God Bless their souls. Thank you for the incredible work being done by our first responders. I am monitoring the situation and will provide more details as they arise.”
Helicopter was on training flight
The Army said the Black Hawk helicopter involved in the crash was based out of Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
Search operations underway in Potomac River
“The accident happened in the river,” a dispatcher said in scanner audio obtained from air traffic control. “Both the helicopter and the plane crashed in the river.”
64 people aboard flight from Wichita, Kansas
A plane carrying 60 passengers and four crew members collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter carrying three soldiers Wednesday night while trying to land at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport outside Washington, D.C.
“A PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet collided in midair with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter while on approach to Runway 33 at Reagan Washington National Airport around 9 p.m. local time,” the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement.
The plane, operated by American Airlines, had taken off from Wichita, Kansas, the FAA said.
