Flights in and out of Washington DC’s Ronald Reagan Airport have been halted after an American Airlines plane thought to be carrying 60 people collided with a military helicopter.
Law enforcement confirmed the news around 9.30 p.m. ET on Wednesday night, with the Federal Aviation Administration later providing additional information about the aircraft involved.
Video from an observation camera at the nearby Kennedy Center shows two sets of lights consistent with aircraft appearing to conjoin in a fireball.
In a statement, the FAA said the crash occurred after a PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet collided in midair with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter while on approach to the runway at Reagan around 9 p.m. local time, having come from Wichita, Kansas.
The FAA and NTSB will investigate. The NTSB will lead the investigation. American Airlines said on X that it was aware of the incident and would provide further information in due course.
An Associated Press source later confirmed that the helicopter was being piloted by the U.S. Army.
A significant response from fire, EMS, and police, were reported at the scene of the incident in the Potomac River.
Multiple helicopters, including those from the U.S. Park Police and the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department and U.S. military, were seen in attendance.
Virginia Rep Don Beyer said the incident was “worrying” but urged civilians to let law enforcement do their jobs.
“I am following the response to a reported aviation incident at DCA, and am in touch with airport officials as we try to learn more about what happened and why,” he wrote on X.
“This is obviously very worrying, but I urge the community to please let first responders do their jobs and save lives.”
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