An air disaster rocked Washington on Wednesday evening. A passenger plane with 64 people on board crashed into a river after a mid-air collision with a US military helicopter as it approached Ronald Reagan National Airport.
19 bodies have been pulled from the Potomac River so far, where rescuers have been searching for hours in the icy waters. Authorities have launched an investigation and the nearby Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport has suspended all flights, A2 CNN reports.
The American Airlines plane was reportedly taking off from Kansas with 60 passengers and four crew members on board. According to the American Figure Skating Association, a number of members of this community were on board.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon said the helicopter involved in the accident was a Sikorsky H-60 from Virginia. Three US soldiers were on board the helicopter at the time of the accident. An audio clip posted online and verified by CNN appears to show an air traffic control communication warning the helicopter about the passenger plane, but receiving no response.
US President Donald Trump said he had been briefed on the horrific accident, and raised the question of why the helicopter had not maneuvered to avoid the collision. (A2 Televizion)
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