Washington DC: 19 our bodies reportedly recovered after passenger aircraft collides with navy helicopter over Potomac River – dwell | Washington DC

Right here is without doubt one of the newest photos of first responders finishing up the search and rescue operation on the Potomac River.

The Federal Aviation Administration stated the midair crash occurred round 9pm when American Airways flight 5342 – a regional jet that had departed from Wichita, Kansas – collided with a military helicopter whereas on method to an airport runway. The collision occurred in a number of the most tightly managed and monitored airspace on this planet, simply over three miles south of the White Home and the Capitol.

Sam Jones, Philip Wen and Helen Livingstone have our newest up to date report on the crash:

Officers haven’t given any determine for the variety of our bodies recovered from the crash website within the Potomac River.

There’s a media briefing anticipated at 7.30am native time (12.30 GMT).

Within the meantime, Related Press reviews “there have been a number of fatalities, in accordance with an individual conversant in the matter, however the exact variety of victims was unclear as rescue crews hunted for any survivors.”

The information company added that the one that advised it that there had been a number of deaths was not licensed to publicly focus on particulars of the investigation, and spoke to on situation of anonymity.

Low temperatures are additionally hampering first responders, with the BBC forecasting “a minimal of -1C (30F) by the remainder of the night time.”

The official spokesperson for the Kremlin, Dmitry Peskov, has stated the info is “confirmed” that former world champion Russian determine skaters Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov have been on board the crashed American Airways flight.

Tass reviews Peskov stated “There have been different fellow residents of ours there too. Dangerous information from Washington as we speak.”

CBS Information reporter Kris Van Cleave has stated that human stays and plane particles have been washing up on the Virginia facet of the Potomac River.

He advised the information community the aircraft broke into a number of items, and that diving crews have had some entry to the cabin, and have recovered one black field. He additionally reported that the helicopter “is the other way up however seems to be principally intact.”

American Airways flight 5342 was inbound to Reagan Nationwide with 60 passengers and 4 crew on board when it collided with a US military Black Hawk helicopter at about 9pm native time on Wednesday night time.

Washington DC aircraft crash – what we all know to this point …

CNN’s Gabe Cohen has indicated to the information community that the temper amongst first responders is somber, and that rescue efforts have been transferring into “a restoration effort.”

He advised CNN:

I spoke with a legislation enforcement supply just some minutes in the past. He advised me that there’s a very somber temper, even on the rescue scene. It feels – definitely not formally – however that we’re type of transferring from that “search-and-rescue operation” right into a restoration effort. They’ve pulled a number of our bodies out. There are fatalities confirmed on the scene. And now we’re simply ready for solutions.

Whereas officers wouldn’t give us any data on the restoration, potential survivors, or the fatality rely, you would inform it was not good and that, barring a miracle, they have been taking a look at probably the worst catastrophe right here in Washington in decade.

Related Press reviews {that a} recording of air tower communications on the time of the crash has been captured by LiveATC.internet, which the company described as “a revered supply for in-flight recording.”

Within the recording, seconds after the final message from the American Airways flight, one other aircraft referred to as the tower and stated “Tower, did you see that?”

An air visitors controller then redirected planes heading to runway 33 at Ronald Reagan Washington nationwide airport to go round.

“Crash, crash, crash, that is an alert three,” one of many air visitors controllers could be heard saying within the audio.

One other controller remarked “I don’t know in case you caught earlier what occurred, however there was a collision on the method into 33. We’re going to be shutting down operations for the indefinite future.”

Native media reviews that Ronald Reagan Washington nationwide airport is ready to reopen at 11am, however that timing is “fluid” relying on the scenario.

US determine skating governing physique says it’s ‘devastated by this unspeakable tragedy’

19 our bodies recovered from scene of Washington DC aircraft crash – reviews

Among the many passengers aboad the American Airways aircraft have been determine skating athletes, coaches and members of the family who had been at a improvement camp in Wichita, US Determine Skating has stated.

Group USA pair skater Luke Wang posted on X:

Praying for all these on the flight from wichita to dc. among the many passengers have been skaters and coaches. completely (sic) heartbreaking.”

Reuters reviews, citing the Russian state-run Tass information company, that world champion Russian determine skaters have been aboard the American Airways aircraft that crashed close to Reagan Washington Nationwide airport.

Tass, citing a supply, names the Russian determine skaters and coaches as Yevgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov. Shishkova and Naumov, who’re married, received the world championship in pairs determine skating in 1994.

Identities of these aboard the aircraft or helicopter haven’t but been formally launched.

The wrecked fuselages of each the US navy helicopter and the industrial jet concerned in a collision over the Potomac River are mendacity within the water, Washington mayor, Muriel Bowser, advised a press briefing early Thursday.

Divers have made their approach contained in the helicopter, reviews NBC Information.

First responders have been working now for greater than 5 hours. Talking at a information convention, DC hearth chief John A Donnelly Sr, described the rescue operation as “extremely advanced”.

He stated:

The situations on the market are extraordinarily tough for the primary responders. It’s chilly. They’re coping with comparatively windy situations – the wind is difficult out on the river.”