Subhechcha Ganguly 
An American Airlines regional jet collided midair with a Black Hawk helicopter while landing at Washington DC’s Ronald Reagan National Airport on Wednesday night. The crash, which occurred around 9 pm ET, has resulted in the recovery of 18 bodies, with no survivors found, according to CBS News.
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed the collision involved a regional jet that had departed from Wichita, Kansas, and a military Black Hawk helicopter approaching the airport runway. The helicopter had taken off from Fort Belvoir, Virginia, and was conducting a training flight at the time, as confirmed by the Pentagon.
In response to the incident, all aircraft take-offs and landings at Ronald Reagan Airport have been suspended. A search and rescue operation is underway near the Potomac River, with emergency personnel from the DC Fire Department, police, and the US Coast Guard actively involved. DC Mayor Muriel Bowser stated that first responders are working under challenging “dark and cold conditions.”
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom expressed profound sorrow over the tragedy, assuring the public that the airline is fully cooperating with the National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation.
In response to the disaster, President Donald Trump issued a statement, offering condolences and praising the efforts of first responders. Trump later raised questions on social media regarding the visibility of the plane’s lights and the control tower’s communication with the helicopter.
Newly confirmed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the Pentagon is closely monitoring the situation. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy also announced coordination with local authorities to provide necessary support.
