This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g9kdgzj91o
The article has changed 20 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| What we know so far about Washington DC plane crash | What we know so far about Washington DC plane crash |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Watch: Rescue efforts as passenger jet and helicopter collide in DC | |
| 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 a police official who spoke to the BBC's broadcast partner, CBS News. | 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 a police official who spoke to the BBC's broadcast partner, CBS News. |
| Authorities are investigating, and the nearby Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport has grounded all flights. | Authorities are investigating, and the nearby Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport has grounded all flights. |
| Follow live updates on the crash | Follow live updates on the crash |
| Full story: Airliner and helicopter collide near Washington DC | Full story: Airliner and helicopter collide near Washington DC |
| Did you witness the incident? Get in touch | Did you witness the incident? Get in touch |
| 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 (FAA). | 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 (FAA). |
| The passenger plane, a Bombardier CRJ700, departed from Wichita, Kansas and was carrying 60 passengers and four crew, American Airlines said. | The passenger plane, a Bombardier CRJ700, departed from Wichita, Kansas and was carrying 60 passengers and four crew, American Airlines said. |
| 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, Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser said. Another official said it was on a training flight, and it belonged to B Company, 12th Aviation Battalion from Fort Belvoir in Virginia. | Three US soldiers were on board, Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser said. Another official said it was on a training flight, and it belonged to B Company, 12th Aviation Battalion from Fort Belvoir in Virginia. |
| A clip published online, and reviewed by CNN, purports to capture the air traffic control conversation in the moments before the crash. A controller can reportedly be heard warning the helicopter about the plane, but receiving no reply. The audio has not been verified by the BBC. | A clip published online, and reviewed by CNN, purports to capture the air traffic control conversation in the moments before the crash. A controller can reportedly be heard warning the helicopter about the plane, but receiving no reply. The audio has not been verified by the BBC. |
| 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 have refused to confirm reports on casualties during a press conference, saying they are focused on continuing their rescue effort through the night - which they describe as challenging. | Officials in Washington DC have refused to confirm reports on casualties during a press conference, saying they are focused on continuing their rescue effort through the night - which they describe as challenging. |
| However, a police official at the scene told CBS that 18 bodies had been pulled from the water. | However, a police official at the scene told CBS that 18 bodies had been pulled from the water. |
| US Figure Skating said "several members of our skating community were sadly aboard" the flight. It said this group comprised athletes, coaches and family members who were returning home from a development camp in Kansas. | US Figure Skating said "several members of our skating community were sadly aboard" the flight. It said this group comprised athletes, coaches and family members who were returning home from a development camp in Kansas. |
| Early reports in 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 in 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. |
| Watch: First responders at scene of plane crash in Washington DC | |
| 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, resembled a "giant roman candle" and went from the plane's nose to its tail. | The sparks, he said, resembled 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. |
| Watch: Witness describes seeing ‘white flare’ at moment of plane collision | Watch: Witness describes seeing ‘white flare’ at moment of plane collision |
| 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, writing: "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, writing: "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, Duffy said "we will take appropriate action if necessary". He added: "There will be a review of what happened here tonight." | Asked if flight paths near Ronald Reagan airport would be changed after the incident, Duffy said "we will take appropriate action if necessary". He added: "There will be a review of what happened here tonight." |
| 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. |
| That was echoed by Roger Marshall, a US senator representing Kansas, where the plane had travelled from. He described a "heartbreak beyond measure". | That was echoed by Roger Marshall, a US senator representing Kansas, where the plane had travelled from. He described a "heartbreak beyond measure". |
| Get in touch | Get in touch |
| Were you in the area? did you witness the incident? If it is safe to do so, please get in touch. | Were you in the area? did you witness the incident? If it is safe to do so, please get in touch. |