In a shocking incident, a regional jet carrying 60 passengers and four crew members collided with an Army helicopter while preparing to land at Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington, D.C. on Wednesday evening. The collision prompted an extensive search-and-rescue operation in the nearby Potomac River, as authorities scrambled to locate potential survivors.
As helicopters from various law enforcement agencies circled the area, all airport operations were halted. Inflatable rescue boats were deployed from the George Washington Parkway, and first responders set up light towers along the shore to illuminate the crash site. The temperature hovered around 60 degrees Fahrenheit, a stark contrast to the recent cold snap, while the river’s temperature was a chilling 36 degrees.
President Donald Trump addressed the nation, stating he had been “fully briefed on this terrible accident,” and offered prayers for the passengers, saying, “May God bless their souls.”
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that the crash occurred around 9 p.m. EST when the Bombardier CRJ-701 jet, which had just departed from Wichita, Kansas, collided with a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter on a training flight. The incident took place in one of the most closely monitored airspaces in the world, just over three miles south of the White House and the Capitol.
Investigators now face the daunting task of piecing together the final moments leading up to the collision. Data from the jet’s radio transponder indicated it was flying at around 400 feet and 140 miles per hour when it experienced a rapid loss of altitude, approximately 2,400 feet short of the runway. In the moments before the crash, air traffic controllers had cleared the jet to land on the shorter Runway 33, after confirming it could do so.
Less than 30 seconds prior to the collision, controllers inquired if the helicopter had visual contact with the approaching jet. A subsequent radio call instructed the helicopter to pass behind the CRJ, moments before the two aircraft collided. Eyewitness video from the Kennedy Center captured the alarming sight of two sets of lights merging into a fireball.
The Army confirmed that three soldiers were aboard the Blackhawk helicopter, which was based at Fort Belvoir in Virginia. This tragic event has placed significant pressure on the Trump administration’s newly appointed agency leaders, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy both pledging to monitor the situation closely.
The airport is expected to remain closed until 5 a.m. Friday, halting operations at a facility known for its proximity to the city and iconic landmarks. This incident echoes the tragic Air Florida crash of 1982, which saw a plane plummet into the Potomac, claiming 78 lives—a stark reminder of the dangers that can lurk in the skies.
As the investigation unfolds, the nation holds its breath, hoping for answers and mourning the lives affected by this tragic collision.
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