President Donald Trump sent his condolences after a tragic mid-air crash between a military helicopter and a passenger airliner at Washington’s Reagan National Airport late Wednesday. Authorities are frantically trying to gather information on the incident, which caused the jet to plunge into the Potomac River.
Trump stated, “I have been fully briefed on the terrible accident,” in a statement. “May God bless their souls.” He continued by praising first responders’ prompt action, describing their work as “incredible,” and promising to keep the public informed as new information became available.
A US Army Black Hawk helicopter and a Bombardier regional plane, operated by American Airlines subsidiary PSA Airlines, collided in midair at approximately 9 p.m. The incident occurred when the plane, which had taken off from Wichita, Kansas, was getting closer to the airport.
Although official figures are still unknown, it was believed that the aircraft, which could accommodate up to 78 passengers, was carrying about 60 people.
Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas called the collision “nothing short of a nightmare” in a post about it on social media. He urged authorities to release more information and asked for prayers for the victims and first responders.
The plane’s wreckage was discovered in the Potomac River’s murky, almost cold waters. Fireboats and other emergency personnel were sent to the area, but the cold and darkness made it difficult to remove the wreckage. As of late Wednesday, no official news on injuries had been established, although Washington police reported that several agencies were responding to the collision.
Moments before the disaster, witnesses reported seeing a startling and flaming spectacle in the sky. Witness Ari Schulman, who was at the time driving home, stated
