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No survivors as American Airlines jet collides with Army Helicopter

Writer's picture: Derek WhiteDerek White


American Eagle Flight 5342 operated by PSA Airlines, is subsidiary of American Airlines, collided with an Army Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River.  The jet was working on approaching the Reagan National Airport runway when the helicopter found its way in the flight path.  The Army was conducting a night-time training flight at the time of the accident, but under standard conditions.

                    District of Columbia fire chief John Donnelly said, “at this point we do not believe there were any survivors, the conditions are cold and windy making the operation extremely difficult for the 300 responders on the scene.”

                  American Eagle Flight 5342 had 60 passengers and 4 crew members on board, authorities latest update had emergency personnel recovered 30 bodies.  The flight was arriving from Wichita, with 14 skaters were on board. Six were from Boston and some were from Russia including former world champion skaters Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov. 

                  The skaters were returning from the National Development Camp in Wichita when their jet collided with the helicopter.  The helicopter and jet had communication with Air Traffic Control, but something went wrong as the country lost 67 lives with three service members on board the Black Hawk.



                  President Trump held a press conference Thursday morning, offering a moment of silence before summarizing the events that took place.  He thanked the first responders for mobilizing immediately and working tirelessly through the night on search and recovery efforts.  “In the days to come America is here to support those involved, we are one family, and we are heartbroken,” said President Trump.

This is now the deadliest U.S. air disaster since November 2001, when an American Airlines jet crashed after departing John F. Kennedy International Airport killing all 260 people on board.



As the days go on more information will be made public as President Trump and Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy promised to find answers.   

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