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Ronald Reagan nationwide airport halts all takeoffs and landings following midair collision.
A regional jet carrying dozens of passengers and a army helicopter have collided midair near Washington, DC, the United States, elevating fears of mass casualties and forcing a halt to all takeoffs and landings at Ronald Reagan Washington nationwide airport.
A PSA Airways Bombardier CRJ700 jet collided with a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter whereas en route from Wichita, Kansas, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stated late on Wednesday.
“The FAA and NTSB will examine. The NTSB will lead the investigation,” the aviation company stated in an announcement, referring to the Nationwide Transportation Security Board.
US President Donald Trump stated he had been briefed on the “horrible accident”.
“Might God bless their souls. Thanks for the unimaginable work being achieved by our first responders,” he stated in an announcement.
“I’m monitoring the state of affairs and can present extra particulars as they come up.”
Police and fireplace providers stated a multi-agency search and rescue operation was beneath method within the Potomac River.
“Fireboats on scene,” the District of Columbia Fireplace and Emergency Medical Providers Division stated in a put up on X.
Al Jazeera’s Shihab Rattansi, reporting from Washington, DC, stated there was an “huge response” on the scene of the crash, together with emergency automobiles and boats.
“We must be very clear, that is the primary native airport serving the Washington, DC, metropolitan space,” Rattansi stated.
“We imagine that each of these plane are within the river,” Rattansi stated. “So that’s of huge concern now.”
Video posted on social media appeared to point out the 2 plane collide and explode into flames.
There was no speedy affirmation of the variety of casualties.
US Senator Roger Marshall, who represents Kansas, stated the plane had been carrying “roughly 60 passengers”.
“My prayer is that God wraps his arms round each sufferer and that he continues to be with their households. There are not any phrases that may make telling this story any simpler,” Marshall stated on X.
“I ask the world to hitch me in praying for Kansas this night, the primary responders, rescue crews, and all these concerned on this horrific accident.”
The Bombardier CRJ700 has a most capability of 78 passengers, in line with plane brokerage JetSet Group.
The US military confirmed that its helicopter was carrying three personnel. The Sikorsky H-60 can carry as much as 11 totally outfitted troopers, in line with the location Army.com.
