All flights to and from Washington Ronald Reagan National Airport have been grounded following the mid-air collision between a passenger plane and a US Army helicopter.
The American Airlines flight was carrying 60 passengers and four crew from Wichita, Kansas to Washington DC when the collision occurred as the plane was crossing the Potomac River as it approached Reagan airport on Wednesday evening.
CCTV footage posted online shows the Black Hawk helicopter and plane colliding as the Bombardier CRJ700 jet was coming into land at about 9pm.
So far, 18 bodies have been pulled from the river, where search and rescue teams are scouring the freezing waters, according to US broadcaster CBS.
There no reports of any survivors. Members of the US skating community are reported to have been onboard the passenger jet.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash between American Airlines flight 5342 and the Sikorsky H-60 military helicopter, which had three soldiers onboard.
The passenger flight was being operated by regional carrier PSA Airlines, a subsidiary of American Airlines, as American Eagle.
President Donald Trump said he had been fully briefed on the ‘terrible accident’ and that he was monitoring the situation closely.
“May God Bless their souls,” he said in a statement. “Thank you for the incredible work being done by our first responders.”
On his TruthSocial social media account, the President wrote: “This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented. NOT GOOD!!!”
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom expressed his ‘deep sorrow’ in a video which has been posted to the airline’s website.
Reagan National Airport said flights would be suspended till at least 11am local time on Thursday, but the airport’s terminal remains open.
