Following a tragic air crash in Washington, 18 bodies have been recovered from the Potomac River, with the search continuing for additional victims.
According to media reports, the crash occurred after a midair collision between an American Eagle Flight 5342 and a Black Hawk military helicopter. The Federal Aviation Administration reported that the incident took place around 9 PM on Wednesday, with the Black Hawk helicopter involved in a training flight at the time of the crash.
As part of the emergency response, all flights at Reagan National Airport were suspended. American Eagle Flight 5342, which was en route from Wichita, Kansas, was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members.
Authorities are working tirelessly to locate and rescue any remaining survivors. U.S. President Donald Trump has been informed of the accident, and he stated that he is closely monitoring the situation and the ongoing recovery efforts.
Earlier, an American Eagle regional jet crashed into the Potomac River after colliding midair with an Army Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport. The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed the collision, and sources indicated that both aircraft may have ended up in the river.
A search-and-rescue operation is underway to locate the wreckage and any survivors. The American Army confirmed that the Black Hawk helicopter was involved in the incident, with preliminary reports suggesting three people were aboard.
