Tragic mid-air collision over Washington D.C. claims multiple lives

In a tragic accident over Washington D.C., USA, an American Airlines passenger jet collided mid-air with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter, sending both aircraft crashing into the Potomac River.

The collision occurred at approximately 8:47 pm EST as the Bombardier CRJ-701ER operating as American Eagle Flight 5342 from Wichita to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport was on its final approach. The helicopter involved in the incident was a UH-60 Black Hawk, normally stationed at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, on a training mission with three military personnel.

Immediately, firefighters, helicopters, and divers had been dispatched at the crash scene. The freezing cold and melting of ice around the river only made the ongoing rescue mission considerably worse.  As of the latest reports, at least 18 bodies have been recovered, with no confirmed survivors. The exact number of fatalities remains uncertain as search efforts continue.

Among the passengers were Russian former world champion figure skaters Yevgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, returning from a figure skating camp in Wichita. Both were on the flight, sources have confirmed.

Preliminary information from the investigation shows that less than 30 seconds before the accident, an air traffic controller asked if the helicopter crew had the Flight 5342 in sight. They responded yes and requested visual separation, which was approved. Shortly thereafter, he told the helicopter to pass behind the airliner, but the collision occurred shortly after.

President Donald Trump has sent in his condolences: “This tragedy should have been prevented. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families.” He further assured of a complete investigation into the cause of the crash to avoid any recurrences.

This incident marks the first fatal U.S. commercial airline crash since 2009 and echoes the 1982 Air Florida crash into the Potomac River.

Await further details as investigations continue.

Stay tuned to The Maltese Herald for more on this story.

Ruth Zammit

News Editor
Journalist and Newscaster