What to Know About the Plane and Helicopter Crash Near Washington

A tragic incident occurred on Wednesday night as a passenger jet carrying 64 people crashed into the Potomac River near Washington after colliding midair with a military helicopter. The collision took place while the plane was approaching Reagan National Airport, operated as American Eagle Flight 5342 by PSA Airlines for American Airlines. Departing from Wichita, Kan., the aircraft had 60 passengers and four crew members onboard. The collision with an Army helicopter carrying a crew of three resulted in an explosion, with rescue teams searching the dark and frigid water for survivors.

The collision caused an explosion.

The moment of impact was captured on a live webcam operated by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, showing the two aircraft colliding and erupting into an explosive fireball. Prior to the collision, the plane was in the process of landing at Reagan Washington National Airport.

Reports of a plane crash above the Potomac River came in at 8:53 p.m., with Washington authorities confirming the crash shortly after. The fate of the passengers and crew remains uncertain, as multiple agencies work to respond to the incident.

Officials have not said whether anyone survived.

As of early Thursday, there has been no official confirmation of survivors or casualties. The search and rescue operation is underway with the involvement of helicopters, police boats, and divers near the airport.

Rescuers face challenging conditions.

Approximately 300 emergency responders are tackling the difficult task of locating survivors or victims in treacherous conditions. The search effort is expected to be prolonged due to the harsh weather conditions, posing challenges such as hypothermia risk.

The search and rescue mission is anticipated to continue for several days, as authorities work tirelessly to bring closure to this devastating incident.