AssetID: 54474759
Headline: UNCAPTIONED: Passenger Plane and Military Helicopter Collide Over Potomac River
Caption: Passenger Plane and Military Helicopter Collide Over Potomac River. A passenger plane carrying 64 people and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter with three soldiers collided mid-air over the Potomac River near Washington DC. The American Airlines flight was approaching Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport after departing from Wichita, Kansas, while the military helicopter was on a training mission. The collision occurred at around 9pm local time, sending both aircraft crashing into the icy waters. Authorities have confirmed multiple fatalities and search and rescue efforts are ongoing. US Figure Skating confirmed several athletes and coaches were on board. Russian world champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, along with their son Maxim, are feared among the victims. Over 300 responders, inflatable boats, and helicopters are involved in a highly complex search effort, with freezing temperatures increasing the risk of hypothermia. President Donald Trump praised first responders and promised further updates, while Vice President JD Vance urged prayers for those affected. The crash site is just over three miles south of the White House, within one of the world’s most controlled airspaces. The FAA has shut down Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport until further notice, while the US Army and Defense Department have launched a formal investigation. This is the deadliest commercial aviation accident in the US since 2009, when a Colgan Air flight crashed in New York, killing 49 people. Instructions: THIS VIDEO MUST NOT BE EDITED FOR LENGTH TO COMBINE WITH OTHER CONTENT
Keywords: Current Affairs & Politics,Plane,Military,Helicopter,Collide,Potomac,River,Ronald Reagan Washington,National Airport,Icy,Wichita,Kansas,Chopper,Army,Flight,Crash,Rescuing,White House,Training,Mission,Travel
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