Plane and Helicopter Collide

January 30, 2025

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A passenger plane and a military helicopter collided mid-air over the Potomac River near Washington, DC, late Wednesday night.

The American Airlines flight was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, while the Black Hawk helicopter had three soldiers on board. So far, 19 bodies have been recovered from the crash site, but officials have not confirmed the total number of casualties.

The accident happened around 9:00 PM local time, near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Rescue teams, including 300 first responders, are searching the freezing waters for survivors. Emergency workers say the river is difficult to navigate due to ice and darkness.

Several figure skaters, including two from Russia, were on the plane, according to the US Figure Skating Association. Officials have not confirmed their conditions.

US President Donald Trump commented on the crash, saying it “should have been prevented” and questioning why the helicopter did not move up or down to avoid the collision.

Reagan National Airport, which was temporarily closed, is set to reopen Thursday at 11:00 AM local time. The weather overnight has been cold, with temperatures dropping below freezing. Rescue efforts are expected to continue through the night.

Article written by Milli Banbury

This article was written using AI as an assistive tool for research, writing, and proofreading.
The te reo Māori version of this article was translated with AI assistance. While care has been taken to keep it accurate, if you spot anything that doesn't read quite right, please let us know

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The weather report warned that a southerly change would arrive late in the afternoon. By dinner time, the temperature had dropped sharply, and the wind rattled the windows of houses across the district. Parents hurried to bring washing inside, and students walking home tightened their jackets. Although the sky was still bright in some places, dark clouds were building near the hills. The report suggested that the change in weather would be brief, but intense, with heavy rain expected for a short period.