U.S. authorities are conducting rescue efforts after a commercial airplane collided with a helicopter over the Potomac River in Washington. While the exact number is unknown, it has been reported that a total of 67 people were on board both aircraft at the time of the accident.
According to police sources cited by CNN, the victims have not yet been recovered from the waters of the river, and no possible survivors have been found. Fox reports the presence of the crashed aircraft in the water, with the airplane split in half and the helicopter inverted underwater.
Rescue authorities are facing difficult conditions due to the cold and have indicated that operations will extend into the early morning and for as long as necessary. Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser and the president of the Metropolitan Washington airports, Jack Potter, have stated that they will focus on rescue efforts for the time being.
President Trump expressed his dissatisfaction with the accident and questioned why it was not avoided. John Donnelly, chief of the Washington Emergency Service, also commented on the situation, and Mayor Bowser lamented what happened without providing details about the victims.
New Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy reported that investigations into the incident are underway. Reagan Airport in Washington will remain closed until noon due to this accident, which involved the Black Hawk helicopter and the Bombardier CRJ7 airplane.
Rescue operations are facing harsh weather conditions, with low temperatures and winds. The search for survivors continues in a complex scenario.
