On Wednesday, a jet with 60 passengers and four crew members aboard collided with an Army helicopter while landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington, prompting a large search-and-rescue operation in the nearby Potomac River. Helicopters from law enforcement agencies across the region flew over the scene in search of the survivors.
The Fire and Emergency Services chief John Donnelly described the operation as highly complex. He said, “The conditions out there are extremely rough for the first responders. It’s cold. They’re dealing with relatively windy conditions – the wind is hard out on the river.” President Donald Trump called it a “terrible accident” and appreciated emergency responders. Reagan National Airport has been closed, according to the Federal Aviation Administration, and flights are being diverted to Baltimore-Washington International Marshall Airport.
Additionally, there were 858 flights scheduled to take off and land at Reagan National Airport on Wednesday, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium, and 869 flights were scheduled to take off and land Thursday. Approximately 19 aircraft were in the air at the time of the crash near Reagan National Airport and were diverted to Dulles International Airport, about 20 miles west.
D.C. Mayor Muriel declined to comment on the condition of aircraft, which remains submerged in the Potomac River. On rescue operations, John Donnelly, Chief DC Fire and EMS Chief says, “The challenges are excess. The water we are operating in is about 80 feet deep. There is wind and pieces of ice out there. It’s dangerous and hard to work in. The water is dark and murky and it is a very tough condition for divers to dive in”.
Comments