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.
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