Rescuers search icy Potomac for crash survivors

The fates of dozens of passengers and crew were unknown Wednesday night after a midair collision involving two aircraft took place near a Washington, D.C., airport. A regional jet collided with a military helicopter at about 9 p.m. while on approach to Runway 33 at Reagan Washington National Airport, according to a statement from the Federal Aviation Administration. Both aircraft fell into the Potomac River after colliding. The FAA ordered a full ground stop at the airport until at least 11 a.m. Thursday.

Did anyone survive? Officials who briefed reporters after midnight would not say whether the rescue operation had found any passengers or crew alive. Chief John Donnelly of D.C. Fire and EMS said more than 300 responders from various agencies were on the scene with multiple boats and divers scouring the river. “The conditions out there are extremely rough for the responders. It’s cold. They are dealing with relatively windy conditions,” Donnelly said.

Though officials at the briefing would not directly confirm the deaths of any passengers and crew, Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas took the podium and expressed sorrow for lives that had been lost. He read a verse from Psalm 34: “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”

What do we know about the two aircraft? The jet was a Bombardier CRJ700 aircraft operated by PSA Airlines, a regional airline under the American Airlines group, according to the FAA. The flight has been identified as American Airlines Flight 5342. It departed from Wichita, Kan., earlier today. The other aircraft was a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter, the FAA added. It was a military helicopter, according to authorities.

What do we know about the people aboard? Sixty passengers and four crew members were aboard the passenger jet, according to a report by CNN that cited American Airlines. The CRJ700 typically seats up to 78 passengers. At this time, the status of the passengers and crew of either aircraft is unknown. Maryland State Police deployed divers to the Potomac River, according to CNN, citing Maryland Gov. Wes Moore. 

What else are authorities saying? President Donald Trump said he had been briefed on what he called a terrible accident, adding, “May God bless their souls.” Vice President J.D. Vance issued a statement calling on Americans to pray for all involved, adding that authorities were monitoring the situation and everyone should hope for the best. Marshall and fellow Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas each issued statements Wednesday night saying they were in contact with authorities and asking for prayer for the people aboard the aircraft. Marshall characterized the crash as devastating and nothing short of a nightmare. He said he prayed that God would wrap his arms around each victim and continues to be with their families. He also asked the world to join him in prayer for Kansas, first responders, rescue crews, and all involved in the incident.

Wednesday’s crash represents the most significant aviation-related disaster in the United States since the Feb. 12, 2009, crash of Continental Connection Flight 3407 just outside of Buffalo, N.Y. That crash resulted in the deaths of 45 passengers, four crew members, and one person on the ground, according to the NTSB. The aircraft was on an instrument approach to Buffalo-Niagara International Airport when it crashed into a residence.