American Airlines jet collides with helicopter near Reagan Airport

An American Airlines regional passenger jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter crashed into the Potomac River after a midair collision near Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday night, officials said.

The Washington Post said multiple bodies had been pulled from the water. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas said on social media that “we know there are fatalities,” though he did not say how many.

An American Airlines source told Reuters that 60 passengers, along with two pilots and two crew members were scheduled to be on the flight. Three soldiers were aboard the helicopter, a U.S. official said.

There has not been a fatal U.S. passenger airplane accident since February 2009, but a series of near-miss incidents in recent years have raised serious safety concerns.

NBC reported that four people had been pulled alive from the Potomac River.

Police said multiple agencies were involved in a search and rescue operation in the Potomac River, which borders the airport. Reuters

The post American Airlines jet collides with helicopter near Reagan Airport appeared first on DailyNews.