Tragedy in the skies: 18 dead in Washington mid‑air collision
On Thursday night Eastern Time, an aviation disaster occurred in Washington. A passenger plane collided with a military Black Hawk helicopter and crashed into the river. As reported by the "NY Post," an investigation is ongoing into the accident in which at least 18 people died.
The disaster occurred near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. A Black Hawk helicopter belonging to the U.S. Army collided with an American Airlines passenger plane.
The accident happened during a training flight of the helicopter. There were three military personnel on board the helicopter.
- We can confirm that the aircraft involved in today's accident was a UH-60 helicopter from the Bravo Company, 12th Aviation Battalion, from Davison Army Airfield, Fort Belvoir, during a training flight - said an army spokesperson in an interview with Fox News.
The American Airlines passenger plane coming from Kansas was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members. According to the "NY Post," emergency services have recovered at least 18 bodies from the river. No survivors have been found yet.
The Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, announced the launch of an investigation into the disaster. "Absolutely tragic. Search and rescue efforts still ongoing. Prayers for all impacted souls, and their families. Investigation launched immediately by Army & DoD," he wrote on platform X.
The collision occurred as the plane was approaching Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that the plane had permission to land. However, it is unknown if the helicopter had communication with air traffic control.
Recently, there have been several accidents involving military aircraft during exercises. Last year, four such incidents resulted in the deaths of nine people. The investigation aims to uncover the causes of the latest tragedy.
