Plane carrying more than 60 collides with helicopter, crashes in Washington | ABS-CBN
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Plane carrying more than 60 collides with helicopter, crashes in Washington
Plane carrying more than 60 collides with helicopter, crashes in Washington
MANILA (UPDATED) — The Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C. is closely monitoring the situation at the Reagan Washington National Airport in Virginia, after a regional passenger aircraft, reportedly carrying 64 people, collided midair with a US Army Black Hawk helicopter while approaching to land
MANILA (UPDATED) — The Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C. is closely monitoring the situation at the Reagan Washington National Airport in Virginia, after a regional passenger aircraft, reportedly carrying 64 people, collided midair with a US Army Black Hawk helicopter while approaching to land
The plane crashed in the nearby Potomac river.
The plane crashed in the nearby Potomac river.
“Authorities are currently undertaking search and rescue operations. The White House has confirmed that a military helicopter collided with a commercial jet. So far, the Embassy has not received reports of Filipinos involved in the incident,” a statement from the Philippine Embassy in Washington DC said.
“Authorities are currently undertaking search and rescue operations. The White House has confirmed that a military helicopter collided with a commercial jet. So far, the Embassy has not received reports of Filipinos involved in the incident,” a statement from the Philippine Embassy in Washington DC said.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), American Airlines Flight 5342 departed from Wichita, Kansas and was approaching Runway 33 of the Reagan Washington National Airport for landing, when it collided with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter, around 9PM PST Wednesday, or 10am Thursday Manila time.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), American Airlines Flight 5342 departed from Wichita, Kansas and was approaching Runway 33 of the Reagan Washington National Airport for landing, when it collided with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter, around 9PM PST Wednesday, or 10am Thursday Manila time.
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In a statement posted on X, the FAA says it is working with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on the investigation of the incident.
In a statement posted on X, the FAA says it is working with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on the investigation of the incident.
“The FAA and NTSB will investigate. The NTSB will lead the investigation. We will provide updates as information comes in,” the FAA said.
“The FAA and NTSB will investigate. The NTSB will lead the investigation. We will provide updates as information comes in,” the FAA said.
The number of casualties is not yet known, as search and rescue operations continue.
The number of casualties is not yet known, as search and rescue operations continue.
In one of his first few posts on X after just being sworn-in, US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said he is on site at the FAA headquarters to closely monitor the situation and has made the necessary instructions to his agency.
In one of his first few posts on X after just being sworn-in, US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said he is on site at the FAA headquarters to closely monitor the situation and has made the necessary instructions to his agency.
“I have directed the @USDOT (US Department of Transportation) and the FAA to provide full support to the NTSB and all responding agencies and authorities.”
“I have directed the @USDOT (US Department of Transportation) and the FAA to provide full support to the NTSB and all responding agencies and authorities.”
“I have spoken with Washington D.C. Mayor Bowser, Virginia Governor Youngkin, Kansas Governor Kelly, and NTSB Chair Homendy to offer our agency’s complete assistance. Thank you to all first responders who are on the scene and conducting the search and rescue operations,” he added.
“I have spoken with Washington D.C. Mayor Bowser, Virginia Governor Youngkin, Kansas Governor Kelly, and NTSB Chair Homendy to offer our agency’s complete assistance. Thank you to all first responders who are on the scene and conducting the search and rescue operations,” he added.
The NTSB also assured the public that it has deployed a “go-team” — technical experts who are on call to head to accident sites for prompt investigation and troubleshooting.
The NTSB also assured the public that it has deployed a “go-team” — technical experts who are on call to head to accident sites for prompt investigation and troubleshooting.
The Reagan Washington National Airport is just 4.9 miles or almost 8 kilometers away from Washington D.C. All takeoffs and landings at the airport has been halted.
The Reagan Washington National Airport is just 4.9 miles or almost 8 kilometers away from Washington D.C. All takeoffs and landings at the airport has been halted.
“All takeoffs and landings have been halted at DCA. Emergency personnel are responding to an aircraft incident on the airfield. The terminal remains open. Will update,” the airport announced on its official X account.
“All takeoffs and landings have been halted at DCA. Emergency personnel are responding to an aircraft incident on the airfield. The terminal remains open. Will update,” the airport announced on its official X account.
US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson also reacted to the incident.
US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson also reacted to the incident.
“My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone involved, together with deepest gratitude for all the first responders and other helpers,” Carlson said in response to an ABS-CBN post.
“My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone involved, together with deepest gratitude for all the first responders and other helpers,” Carlson said in response to an ABS-CBN post.
DARK, NEAR-FREEZING RIVER
The Federal Aviation Administration ordered the grounding of all planes at Reagan National, and Washington's police said on X that "multiple agencies" were responding to the crash site in the Potomac.
The Federal Aviation Administration ordered the grounding of all planes at Reagan National, and Washington's police said on X that "multiple agencies" were responding to the crash site in the Potomac.
Kristi Noem, the country's new secretary of homeland security, posted on X that she was "deploying every available US Coast Guard resource for search and rescue efforts in this horrific incident at DCA."
Kristi Noem, the country's new secretary of homeland security, posted on X that she was "deploying every available US Coast Guard resource for search and rescue efforts in this horrific incident at DCA."
Police said fireboats had joined the operation on the river, where any work was complicated by the fact it was dark and close to freezing. Dozens of fire trucks headed toward the airport.
Police said fireboats had joined the operation on the river, where any work was complicated by the fact it was dark and close to freezing. Dozens of fire trucks headed toward the airport.
The FAA said a Bombardier regional jet operated by American Airlines subsidiary PSA Airlines "collided in midair" with a Sikorsky UH-60 helicopter as it approached for landing at Reagan at around 9:00 pm (0200 GMT). The plane had left from Wichita, Kansas.
The FAA said a Bombardier regional jet operated by American Airlines subsidiary PSA Airlines "collided in midair" with a Sikorsky UH-60 helicopter as it approached for landing at Reagan at around 9:00 pm (0200 GMT). The plane had left from Wichita, Kansas.
US Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas said the collision was "nothing short of a nightmare."
US Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas said the collision was "nothing short of a nightmare."
"I ask the world to join me in praying for Kansas this evening, the first responders, rescue crews, and all those involved in this horrific accident," he wrote on X.
"I ask the world to join me in praying for Kansas this evening, the first responders, rescue crews, and all those involved in this horrific accident," he wrote on X.
CROWDED AIRSPACE
Questions were expected to focus on how a passenger plane with modern collision-avoidance technology and nearby traffic controllers could collide with a military aircraft over the nation's capital.
Questions were expected to focus on how a passenger plane with modern collision-avoidance technology and nearby traffic controllers could collide with a military aircraft over the nation's capital.
However, the airspace around Washington is often crowded, with planes coming in low over the city to land at Reagan airport and helicopters -- military, civilian and carrying senior politicians -- buzzing about both day and night.
However, the airspace around Washington is often crowded, with planes coming in low over the city to land at Reagan airport and helicopters -- military, civilian and carrying senior politicians -- buzzing about both day and night.
The same airport was the scene of a deadly crash in January 1982 when Air Florida flight 90, a Boeing 737, took off but quickly plummeted, hitting the 14th Street bridge and crashing through the ice into the Potomac River. 78 people died.
The same airport was the scene of a deadly crash in January 1982 when Air Florida flight 90, a Boeing 737, took off but quickly plummeted, hitting the 14th Street bridge and crashing through the ice into the Potomac River. 78 people died.
Investigators concluded the pilot had failed to activite sufficient de-icing procedures.
Investigators concluded the pilot had failed to activite sufficient de-icing procedures.
The last major fatal US crash was in 2009, when Continental Flight 3407 from New Jersey to Buffalo, New York crashed and killed all 49 people aboard. — with Agence France-Presse
The last major fatal US crash was in 2009, when Continental Flight 3407 from New Jersey to Buffalo, New York crashed and killed all 49 people aboard. — with Agence France-Presse
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