A passenger plane with 60 passengers and four crew on board has crashed after colliding with a military helicopter in Washington DC.
The passenger plane was flying near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, just outside of the US capital, before it crashed into DC’s Potomac River.
What we know so far
- The American Airlines Flight 5342 had 60 passengers and four crew members on board.
- The plane collided with a Sikorsky H-50 Black Hawk helicopter carrying three soldiers while mid-air at around 9pm local time.
- The flight was travelling from Wichita, Kansas and was approaching the runway at Reagan Airport.
- There are no confirmed reports about casualties so far.
- DC Police announced the plane crashed in the Potomac River.
- A search and rescue operation is now underway in the river.
- The crash has halted all takeoffs and landings from Ronald Reagan International Airport.
- The US Army Black Hawk helicopter that collided with a passenger aircraft had a crew of three and was not carrying any VIPs.
- US President Donald Trump has been briefed over the situation.
- Trump said he was monitoring the situation and would provide more details as he knew them.
- Dive operations are taking place to search for survivors.
- The conditions in the waters of Potomac River are said to be ‘freezing’.
- American Airlines said in a statement is is “concerned for the passengers and crew on board the aircraft”.
- The plane was travelling at an altitude of about 120m and a speed of around 225km/h.
- Those worried their loved ones were on board have been urged to contact American Airlines.
READ MORE: Plane crashes after colliding with helicopter in Washington DC
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