An American Airlines passenger plane collided midair with a helicopter, after which both aircraft crashed in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Thursday. According to media reports, rescuers have so far pulled out 19 bodies from the Potomac River.
The plane was reportedly carrying 64 people, including passengers and crew members, while the helicopter was carrying three people at the time of the crash.Several fireboats were on the scene as the rescue operations were underway, according to the Washington Fire Department, Reuters said.
According to Fox News, American Airlines Flight 5342 collided with a Black Hawk helicopter near the airport.
Videos on social media showed the moment when the plane crashed into the chopper during landing at the Reagan Airport.
MOMENTS BEFORE THE REAGAN PLANE CRASH
According to the Associated Press, American Airlines Flight 5342 was inbound to Reagan National at an altitude of about 400 feet and a speed of about 140 miles per hour when it suffered a rapid loss of altitude over the Potomac River, according to data from its radio transponder.
The Canadian-made Bombardier CRJ-701 twin-engine jet, manufactured in 2004, can be configured to carry up to 70 passengers.
A few minutes before landing, air traffic controllers asked the arriving commercial jet if it could land on the shorter Runway 33 at Reagan National and the pilots said they were able.
Controllers then cleared the plane to land on Runway 33. Flight tracking sites showed the plane adjust its approach to the new runway.
Less than 30 seconds before the crash, an air traffic controller asked the helicopter if it had the arriving plane in sight.
