A passenger plane crashed into the Potomac River in Washington after colliding in the air with a military helicopter on Wednesday night. American Eagle flight 5342, operated by PSA Airlines, was heading to Ronald Reagan National Airport when it collided with a U.S. Army Sikorsky H-60 helicopter. The impact occurred around 9:00 PM local time (02:00 GMT), according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The number of passengers and whether there are any fatalities has not yet been confirmed.
Emergency teams quickly responded to the crash scene, where police and firefighters are working hard to locate survivors and recover the wreckage of the downed plane in the Potomac River. The White House reported that President Donald Trump was notified of the incident. Both the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have initiated an investigation to determine the causes of the collision.
Rescue helicopters are flying over the area and boats are patrolling the river with powerful searchlights looking for any signs of survivors. Ronald Reagan National Airport temporarily suspended its operations due to the aerial incident. Images of the crash have been widely shared on social media, showing the dramatic fall of the aircraft into the Potomac River.
