KATHMANDU, Jan 30: An American Airlines passenger jet carrying 60 passengers and four crew members crashed into the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, DC, after a mid-air collision with a US Army helicopter, according to media reports.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the incident occurred around 9 PM local time while the aircraft was on approach to Runway 33 at the airport. The military helicopter had three US Army soldiers on board at the time of the collision. Emergency response teams rushed to the scene as efforts to rescue survivors and recover wreckage continued overnight.
US President Donald Trump said he had been briefed on the “terrible accident” and expressed gratitude to emergency responders for their “incredible work” in handling the situation. The DC Fire and EMS Department confirmed that the aircraft had crashed into the Potomac River, which runs through the US capital, following the mid-air collision.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the accident. Details regarding casualties or survivors remain unclear as rescue operations are underway. The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are expected to provide further updates as more information becomes available.
More to follow.