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| What we know so far about Washington DC plane crash | What we know so far about Washington DC plane crash |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| Search and rescue boats have been deployed to the Potomac River | Search and rescue boats have been deployed to the Potomac River |
| A passenger plane carrying 64 passengers and crew has crashed into a river in Washington DC after it collided in mid-air with a US Army helicopter. | A passenger plane carrying 64 passengers and crew has crashed into a river in Washington DC after it collided in mid-air with a US Army helicopter. |
| Eighteen bodies have been pulled from the Potomac River so far, where search and rescue teams are scouring the waters in freezing temperatures, according to the BBC's broadcast partner, CBS. | Eighteen bodies have been pulled from the Potomac River so far, where search and rescue teams are scouring the waters in freezing temperatures, according to the BBC's broadcast partner, CBS. |
| US authorities are investigating and the nearby Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport has grounded all flights. | US authorities are investigating and the nearby Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport has grounded all flights. |
| Here is what we know so far about the incident: | Here is what we know so far about the incident: |
| What happened? | What happened? |
| At around 21:00 local time (02:00 GMT) on Wednesday, a PSA Airlines jet operating as American Airlines 5342 collided with a US Army helicopter as it approached Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. | |
| The passenger plane, a Bombardier CRJ700, departed from Wichita, Kansas and was carrying 60 passengers and four crew, according to American Airlines. | The passenger plane, a Bombardier CRJ700, departed from Wichita, Kansas and was carrying 60 passengers and four crew, according to American Airlines. |
| The Pentagon said the helicopter involved was a Sikorsky H-60 that took off from Fort Belvoir in Virginia. | The Pentagon said the helicopter involved was a Sikorsky H-60 that took off from Fort Belvoir in Virginia. |
| Three US soldiers were on board the Army aircraft, Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser said. | Three US soldiers were on board the Army aircraft, Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser said. |
| The FAA said it would investigate the incident, together with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). | The FAA said it would investigate the incident, together with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). |
| Were there casualties? | Were there casualties? |
| Officials in Washington DC refused to confirm reports on casualties during a press conference, saying they were focused on the rescue effort. | Officials in Washington DC refused to confirm reports on casualties during a press conference, saying they were focused on the rescue effort. |
| However, CBS reported that 18 bodies have been pulled from the water. | However, CBS reported that 18 bodies have been pulled from the water. |
| Early reports on US media said the passenger plane could be seen split in half on the Potomac River, while the helicopter was upside down in the water. | Early reports on US media said the passenger plane could be seen split in half on the Potomac River, while the helicopter was upside down in the water. |
| About 300 responders on rubber boats have been deployed to search for survivors, said Washington DC Fire and Emergency Services Chief John Donnelly. | About 300 responders on rubber boats have been deployed to search for survivors, said Washington DC Fire and Emergency Services Chief John Donnelly. |
| "The challenge is access, there is wind, pieces of ice (on the water). It is dangerous and hard to work in," he said. | "The challenge is access, there is wind, pieces of ice (on the water). It is dangerous and hard to work in," he said. |
| What are eyewitnesses saying? | What are eyewitnesses saying? |
| Ari Schulman told NBC Washington that he saw the plane crash while driving on the George Washington Parkway, which runs along the airport. | Ari Schulman told NBC Washington that he saw the plane crash while driving on the George Washington Parkway, which runs along the airport. |
| He said the plane's approach looked normal, until he saw the aircraft bank hard to the right, with "streams of sparks" running underneath, illuminating its belly. | He said the plane's approach looked normal, until he saw the aircraft bank hard to the right, with "streams of sparks" running underneath, illuminating its belly. |
| At that point, he said he knew that it looked "very, very wrong". Having seen plane landings there in the past, he said a plane's underside should not have been visible in the dark. | At that point, he said he knew that it looked "very, very wrong". Having seen plane landings there in the past, he said a plane's underside should not have been visible in the dark. |
| The sparks, he said, resembed a "giant roman candle" and went from the plane's nose to its tail. | The sparks, he said, resembed a "giant roman candle" and went from the plane's nose to its tail. |
| Jimmy Mazeo said he saw the crash while having dinner with his girlfriend at a park near the airport. | Jimmy Mazeo said he saw the crash while having dinner with his girlfriend at a park near the airport. |
| He recalled seeing what looked like a "white flare" in the sky. He said planes flying into Ronald Reagan Airport appeared to have been flying in "irregular patterns". | He recalled seeing what looked like a "white flare" in the sky. He said planes flying into Ronald Reagan Airport appeared to have been flying in "irregular patterns". |
| Mr Mazeo said he did not think much of what he saw until emergency services started arriving at the scene. | Mr Mazeo said he did not think much of what he saw until emergency services started arriving at the scene. |
| What are US officials saying? | What are US officials saying? |
| President Donald Trump said he had been fully briefed on the the "terrible accident" and that he was monitoring the situation closely. | President Donald Trump said he had been fully briefed on the 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. | "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, he has also raised questions about how the incident could have happened. "This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented. NOT GOOD!!!" | On his TruthSocial social media account, he has also raised questions about how the incident could have happened. "This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented. NOT GOOD!!!" |
| Vice-President JD Vance asked for prayers for those who were in the incident. | Vice-President JD Vance asked for prayers for those who were in the incident. |
| Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, whose appointments were just recently confirmed, also said they were monitoring the situation. | Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, whose appointments were just recently confirmed, also said they were monitoring the situation. |
| Asked if flight paths near Ronald Reagan airport would be changed after the incident, Mr Duffy said "we will take appropriate action if necessary". | Asked if flight paths near Ronald Reagan airport would be changed after the incident, Mr Duffy said "we will take appropriate action if necessary". |
| "There will be a review of what happened here tonight," he said. | "There will be a review of what happened here tonight," he said. |
| American Airlines CEO Robert Isom expressed his "deep sorrow" about the collision in a video which has been posted to the airline's website. | American Airlines CEO Robert Isom expressed his "deep sorrow" about the collision in a video which has been posted to the airline's website. |
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