An American Airlines regional jet and a US military jet Black Hawk helicopter crashed into the Potomac River near Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday night, officials said.
The Washington Post reported that several bodies had been pulled from the water. Texas Senator Ted Cruz said on social media that “we know the death toll” but did not specify the number he was giving.
An American Airlines source told Reuters that two pilots and 60 crew members were expected to be on board. A US official said three soldiers were on board the helicopter.
There hasn’t been a fatal U.S. passenger plane crash since February 2009, but a series of near misses over the years has raised serious safety concerns.
NBC reported that four people were pulled alive from the Potomac River.
A webcam shot from Washington’s Kennedy Center showed a mid-air explosion over the Potomac at 2047 ET, followed by a plane bursting into flames and rapidly descending.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration said the plane was taking off from Reagan National Airport when it collided with a helicopter in midair.
According to the FAA, the plane was operating as American Airlines Flight 5342 from Wichita, Kansas.
Police said a multi-agency search and rescue operation was underway in the Potomac River, which borders the airport.
Dozens of police officers, ambulances and rescue workers in ferry boats raced down the river and onto the tarmac at Reagan National Airport. Live television footage showed some boats in the water, flashing blue and red lights.
All flights and landings were halted as emergency crews responded to the incident.
The National Transportation Safety Board said it was gathering more information about the incident.
“American Eagle Flight 5342, operated by PSA from Wichita (ICT), Kansas, to Reagan National Airport (DCA), Washington, has been reported to have encountered an accident,” American Airlines said on social media.
The airline said it would provide more details when available.
Over the past two years, a series of near misses have raised concerns about U.S. aviation safety and the strain on air traffic control operations.
FAA Administrator Michael McVeigh resigned on January 20, and the Trump administration has not named a replacement — it has not even revealed who will lead the agency on an interim basis.
The last major fatal accident involving a commercial airliner in the United States was in 2009, when a Colgan Air plane crashed in New York state, killing 49 people. One person also died on the ground.
