An American Airlines plane, departing from Kansas, with 68 people on board suffered a tragic accident, colliding with a helicopter Black Hawk with three soldiers in the vicinity of the airport Washington.
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Authorities have confirmed the presence of victims, with 18 bodies recovered from the wreckage. The accident, whose dynamics are still under investigation, occurred at 21 p.m. local time, which corresponds to 3 a.m. in Italy.
Crash Details
Webcam footage shows the helicopter rapidly moving in a horizontal line and hitting the plane from the side as it was maneuvering for a landing at Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia. The regional jet, coming from Wichita, Kansas, was carrying about 60 passengers and crew, while the helicopter was carrying three military personnel on a training flight. All flights were grounded following the incident.
Communications from Control Tower
Audio recordings from the airport control tower indicate that the helicopter had been alerted to the jet's presence. "Path 25," the air traffic controller's voice can be heard, "do you have the jet in sight?" Another pilot later asks the tower, "Did you see it?"
Webcam footage shows the plane descending as the helicopter hits it, creating a flash. Both aircraft then ended up in the Potomac River, sparking anxiety among family members of passengers waiting at the airport, who rushed to the crash site.
Rescue operations were activated promptly, also involving the Coast Guard, but operations were complicated by the weather conditions and the freezing temperature of the river. According to initial information from law enforcement, no survivors were found.
The airport will remain closed at least until the next morning. The FBI has ruled out, at this time, a malicious act or terrorism. The investigation will be conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), supported by military investigators, as soon as the causes of the accident have been ascertained.
The recent event has reignited concerns about air safety, after several air traffic controllers raised concerns about the risk of accidents due to increased air traffic and reduced resources.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he was “monitoring” the situation, while the US president was informed immediately. In a statement, Donald Trump expressed his condolences: “May God bless their souls” and raised questions about the circumstances of the incident, highlighting how the helicopter did not maneuver despite clear flight conditions.
The Potomac crash brings to mind a similar event 43 years ago, when an Air Florida plane crashed into a bridge, killing 74 people.
Article published on 30 January 2025 - 08:39
This incident is truly tragic and makes us reflect on how important aviation safety is. I hope that the authorities can shed light on the causes and take measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. The victims deserve justice.