Plane and Blackhawk helicopter crash in Washington DC

[rfisher]

Breaking news apparently a regional AA jet from Wichita, KS has collided with a Blackhawk helicopter and both are in the Potomic. The jet was attempting to land at Reagan International. This just happened and no information on fatalities as there is a major rescue going on. There is footage showing the crash. You can see the helicopter hitting the jet and an explosion with pieces falling into the river.

 

[peibeck]

The video is horrifying. Hard to imagine survivors from the explosion and then fast fall into the icy Potomac river.

 

[rfisher]

Or being a passenger on the plane you see taking off. The crash is just below them. The cockpit of that plane was frantic.

 

[HeatherC]

I just saw this news on social media and it sounds absolutely horrifying. My heart hurts for all those people.

 

[caseyedwards]

Terrible! The helicopter was like a missile.

 

[misskarne]

I'm afraid this will be a grim evening. There won't be any survivors from an incident like that.

 

[just tuned in]

Wichita!?!?!

 

[Wyliefan]

I just heard the plane was coming from Wichita -- you all have already gotten out of there, right??

 

[rfisher]

Watching the video, you really have to wonder how that helicopter did not see the lights of the jet. Based on the jet's approach, they possibly hit it from behind. The crew and the passengers of the jet never knew what hit them. Even if it was in front, how could they not see each other? It's fortunate Trump didn't shut down the NTSB.

 

[Karen-W]

Just woke up from a nap and am seeing the news. I'm praying for all the people on board both.

 

[Vash01]

I am watching this on msnbc. We may not know much before tomorrow morning.

This is scary.

This was an American Airlines aircraft. Fromthe look of it (on the tv screen) Iam afraid there may be injuries or worse. Thru collapsed in the freezing waters of the Potomac river.

Just last week iirc, United airlines made an emergency landing due to a technical problem. No one was injured.

Roughly a week earlier United airlines plane that left Lagos, Nigeria, made an emergency landing in Lagos. Some passengers and a stewardess were injured.

What’s happening with the aircraft controllers and/or the airplanes? Way too many problems for planes.

 

[Lanie]

When I was originally looking at flying to Nats, I could’ve been on this flight but on Monday. Jesus Christ. I usually fly Delta, but sometimes it’s cheaper to fly American.

I would expect everyone is dead. Just horrific.

 

[rfisher]

Unfortunately the explosion and amount of debris means it's unlikely there are any survivors.

I can't imagine you've made your flight and are only a couple of hundred feet off the runway and then tragedy.

Breaking update: Well, at least 4 people have been pullled alive from the water. So, there's hope there will be more.

 

[peibeck]

Or being a passenger on the plane you see taking off. The crash is just below them. The cockpit of that plane was frantic.

The video isn't very clear making it difficult to tell what the plane taking off could observe. To me it looks like the plane taking off is going the opposite direction of the plane in the collision. I'm assuming (not sure) the bright lights are on the front of the plane.

 

[Karen-W]

I just heard the plane was coming from Wichita -- you all have already gotten out of there, right??

Hopefully no one from the US figure skating community was on the flight. The USFS Development Camp is happening in Wichita this week.

 

[Wyliefan]

When I was originally looking at flying to Nats, I could’ve been on this flight but on Monday. Jesus Christ. I usually fly Delta, but sometimes it’s cheaper to fly American.

I would expect everyone is dead. Just horrific.

@Lanie, I freaked when I saw "Wichita," remembering that you had gotten delayed. Then I went to your Facebook and saw you'd left before this. Thank God you're all right.

 

[purple skates]

How awful.

 

[Karen-W]

The temperature of the Potomac is going to be freezing right now. Water rescues are hard enough, but in the dark & freezing conditions do not bode well.

Spoiler

here is a long distance video clip of the collision - https://x.com/BenGoldey/status/1884794151817859125?t=CRTm2ADycJ3nt6An8I__WQ&s=19

 

[Vash01]

They are looking for survivors. No ice in the water but still it is very cold.

 

[Sylvia]

There's a dreadful possibility that young skaters from USFS' National Development Team Camp may have flown out of Wichita today to D.C., I am just hearing.

 

[peibeck]

News is reporting water temp is 35°.

Hypothermia would set in rapidly for anyone who lived and not pulled from the water.

4 victims apparently pulled from the water, unknown if alive (but hopefully).

 

[Vash01]

The video isn't very clear making it difficult to tell what the plane taking off could observe. To me it looks like the plane taking off is going the opposite direction of the plane in the collision. I'm assuming (not sure) the bright lights are on the front of the plane.

The American Eagle plane that crashed was approaching the runway for landing.

 

[peibeck]

The American Eagle plane that crashed was approaching the runway for landing.

Yes, I know. The video shows a plane in the foreground taking off. That's what I was discussing. The plane taking off appears to have been coming toward the camera, the same as the plane which was landing. So I don't know that the plane which was taking off would have seen the accident.

 

[Rob]

Eye witness says plane looked like it went into the water intact. Not broken up. He said he noticed it before the collision because it looked like yellow sparks were coming out of the bottom of the plane. He thought it might be in distress. Then he saw the explosion.

 

[marshallpond]

Several Washington DC area skaters including VA and DC are on that plane. These are kids from the National Development Camp. I was with a huge group of VA/DC/MD kids at a hotpot in Wichita celebrating the end of the camp, though several of them still had sessions this morning in the invite-only segment of the camp.

Been trying to reach my friends and no one's answering. I called the sister of a skater and she was already crying hysterically because her mom, dad and brother are on that flight

Please pray for all the passengers and crew on that plane, especially the young skaters and their families

 

[Karen-W]

Several Washington DC area skaters including VA and DC are on that plane. These are kids from the National Development Camp. I was with a huge group of VA/DC/MD kids at a hotpot in Wichita celebrating the end of the camp, though several of them still had sessions this morning in the invite-only segment of the camp.

Been trying to reach my friends and no one's answering. I called the sister of a skater and she was already crying hysterically because her mom, dad and brother are on that flight

Please pray for all the passengers and crew on that plane, especially the young skaters and their families

Praying for them and everyone on that flight.

 

[Barbara Manatee]

Oh no. Hoping more survivors will be found.

 

[Lynn226]

A local reporter on the air with NBC said the plane was landing on the shorter runway at Reagan which is not used all the time.

 

[Firedancer]

This is horrific. Praying for everyone involved and hoping they find more survivors

 

[MacMadame]

I just heard the plane was coming from Wichita -- you all have already gotten out of there, right??

That was my thought! It sounds bad according to @marshallpond.