A tragic accident near Washington, D.C., saw a passenger plane collide with a military helicopter. Authorities have confirmed that a total of 67 people lost their lives after both aircraft plunged into the Potomac River. So far, search teams have recovered 41 bodies.
Black Box Found: Could Shed Light on the Cause
The black box of the military helicopter involved in the crash near Ronald Reagan Airport has been retrieved. Todd Inman of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) stated that the black box was safely transported to the center and that its data could provide crucial insights into the cause of the crash.
Inman confirmed that there were no survivors in the crash, which occurred on Wednesday evening, and that all 67 people on board lost their lives.
Search Efforts Ongoing: Wreckage Being Retrieved from the River
Fire and Emergency Medical Services teams conducting search operations in the Potomac River have so far recovered 41 bodies from the water. Fire Chief John Donnelly stated in a press briefing, “The identities of 28 of the 41 recovered bodies have been confirmed. The families of 18 victims have been notified.”
Donnelly added that wreckage removal efforts are ongoing to retrieve the remaining bodies and that over 800 personnel are involved in the operation. Following the crash, two out of three runways at the airport were temporarily closed, leading to the cancellation of approximately 100 out of 800 scheduled flights.
Helicopter Flights Banned
In response to the accident, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has imposed an indefinite ban on helicopter flights near Ronald Reagan Airport. FAA officials stated that the low-altitude corridor in the area has been completely shut down. CNN International reported that just a day before the crash, another helicopter had obstructed a landing in the same area.
Officials emphasized that a thorough examination of the black box will provide further details on the cause of the accident.
How Did the Crash Happen?
On Wednesday, 29 January, near Ronald Reagan Airport, an American Airlines passenger plane collided with a Black Hawk military helicopter. Following the impact, both aircraft crashed into the Potomac River. The passenger plane carried 60 passengers and four crew members, while the military helicopter had three personnel on board.
U.S. President Donald Trump commented on the tragedy, stating, “The helicopter was in the wrong place at the wrong time. This tragedy could have been prevented.” Trump confirmed that there were no survivors.
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