Approximately 300 first responders are braving harsh, dark, and chilly conditions as they carry out a “rescue operation” in the Potomac River after an American Airlines flight collided with a military helicopter, according to officials.
Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser shared tonight that, “Our fire department, DC fire and EMS, supported by fire departments and police departments from across the metropolitan region are executing a rescue operation in the Potomac River.”
She continued, “They are working diligently in very dark, cold conditions – cold water – to execute this rescue operation.”
DC Fire and EMS Chief John A. Donnelly reported that “currently about 300 responders are working” from across the region, including personnel from the U.S. Coast Guard.
“The water that we’re operating in is about eight feet deep. There is wind. There are pieces of ice out there. So it’s just dangerous and hard to work in,” Donnelly said.
Mayor Bowser also noted that her team had received updates from American Airlines officials, with company leadership en route to Washington.
She mentioned that American Airlines representatives are in communication with families at the airport.
In the meantime, President Trump expressed his belief that the collision between the American Airlines plane and the Army helicopter over the Potomac River “should have been prevented.”
“The airplane was on a perfect and routine line of approach to the airport. The helicopter was going straight at the airplane for an extended period of time. It is a CLEAR NIGHT, the lights on the plane were blazing, why didn’t the helicopter go up or down, or turn,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
He also questioned, “Why didn’t the control tower tell the helicopter what to do instead of asking if they saw the plane,” referencing publicly available air traffic control audio from the incident.
“This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented. NOT GOOD!!!”
In a follow-up post, Trump added: “What a terrible night this has been. God bless you all!”
American Airlines Flight 5342, operated by PSA Airlines, was en route from Wichita, Kansas, to Washington when it collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter as it neared Washington Reagan National Airport in Virginia. The flight carried 60 passengers and 4 crew members on board.
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom stated that his company is “cooperating fully” with the federal investigation into the crash of CG 700 aircraft near Reagan National Airport.
“We’re cooperating fully with the National Transportation Safety Board in its investigation, and will continue to provide all the information we can,” Isom said in a video statement released on the company’s website.
“Our cooperation is without pause, and we want to learn everything we can about today’s events,” he added. “That work will take time, but anything we can do now, we’re doing.”
Isom conveyed that the company felt “deep sorrow” over the tragedy and mentioned he would be traveling to Washington, D.C. “shortly.”
{Matzav.com}
