Jim Lo Scalzo / Epa
Rescue teams seek survivors of the American Airlines plane collision with helicopter on the Potomac River
At least 19 lifeless bodies of the 64 plane passengers were discovered. Two were former Russian skating champions, and on board several American athletes were on board.
During the night of Wednesday (1h in Lisbon, 21h in Washington), a plane originating from the US state of Kansas was preparing to land at Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington. Already approached the track when a SIKORSKY H-60 military helicopter that carried 3 people collided Against him, causing an explosion and the crash of the plane on the Potomac River, by the airport.
One that circulates on social networks shows the moment of the collision and the moment the plane is rominating. On board were 60 passengers and 4 members of the crew.
The advance that the plane would be a Jet 700 Regional Canadair, operated by the American Airlines subsidiary, PSA Airlines.
Breaking news: A military helicopter and a regional aircraft from Kansas collided near Reagan National Airport, drawing a large emergency response near D.C. Roughly 60 people were aboard the aircraft, officials said.
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— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost)
According to the agency, At least 19 bodies were rescuedall of them without life. The fire commander says that “it is not yet known if there are survivors.” It also states that search conditions are difficult due to rain. As, on site, they are 4ºC, it is believed that passengers who may have fallen into the water. There are 300 rescuers on site, but say the plane is in pieces.
The body that governs the artistic skating in the United States confirmed that they were on board athletescoaches and family members who participated in the national development field held in conjunction with the United States Artistic Skating Championships, explains the.
On board were also going to two Russian skaters who have already been World Champions in 1994O Casal Evgenia Shishkova e Vadim Naumov.
The US President; Donald Trump has already commented on the X, where “God bless you.”
“The plane was on a perfect approach route to the airport. The helicopter was going straight to the plane for a while. The night was clear, the plane’s lights were shining, because the helicopter did not climb or descend, or make a turn, ”he added.
“Why didn’t the control tower say to the helicopter what to do instead of asking if they had seen the plane? This is a terrible situation that should have been avoided“Trump wrote.
