Plane and Helicopter Collide Over Potomac River: Ongoing Rescue Efforts

Search and rescue teams are currently conducting a multi-agency operation in the Potomac River following a mid-air collision.

A passenger plane with 60 passengers and a crew of four collided with a US Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday.

The accident happened around 9 p.m. local time. PSA Flight 5342, an American Airlines subsidiary, was approaching Runway 33 at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport when the collision occurred, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The US Army’s Sikorsky H-60 Black Hawk helicopter had a crew of three and was not transporting any VIPs, according to US defense officials. The exact number of casualties is still unknown as emergency responders from various agencies continue the search for survivors.

The FAA has temporarily closed Reagan Washington National Airport. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will investigate the crash.