Fear emergency respondents
The Federal Aviation Administration said that before 9 pm on Wednesday, an American airline was hit by Wichita, Kansas from regional jet inbound regional jet and a US Army helicopter as the aircraft Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) preparing to land Had been.
Sixty passengers and four crew were riding on the jet-a Bombardier CRJ700 PSA Airlines, full-owned regional subsidiary of American Airlines.
According to the US Army, three people were riding on a helicopter, a Sikorski H -60, which was on a training mission.
DC EMS: No survivors expect
The accident inspired a large -scale emergency response overnight, in which more and more DC area crew and members of the American Coast Guard discovered the Potomac River under frigid conditions.
At a news conference on Thursday morning, DC Fire and EMS chief John Donley shared a grim update:
“At this point, we don’t believe that there are no one left from the accident,” Donley said, confirming that the bodies of 27 people on the American regional jet, and a person of the helicopter were quickly recovered. Thursday morning.
Investigation begins
According to flight-tracking data from AA 5342, AA 5342, flightware, run by American Airlines regional subsidiary PSA Airlines, Wichita Dwight D. Departed Easenhover National Airport (IPT).
It was due to land in DCA in EST at 8:55 pm. Midyar collision, DC EMS said, “The control tower personnel were informed on EST some time ago at 8:48 pm.
The accident occurred in some of the country’s most congested and tightly regulated airspace, with DCA located across Washington to Potomac in Arlington, Virginia.
The National Transport Safety Board investigators were on the scene starting in the early hours of Thursday morning, the agency confirmed overnight.
The agency planned to update the mid-dopy on its investigation.
At the news conference on Thursday morning, Transport Secretary Sean Dafi postponed NTSB investigators when asked what could happen due to the accident.
“We have the initial indicators of what happened here,” Dafi said. “Prior to the collision, the flight roads that were being blowing from the army, and the American – it was not uncommon for what happens in the DC sector, and as this investigation proceeds, we will be able to provide more details . “
The accident was the first major accident to include American commercial airliner in about 16 years.
How American Airlines is responding
American Airlines urged people who may have to call 800–679–8215 with family members or friends with family members or friends with family members or friends.
American CEO Robert Isom flew overnight to Washington, and shared condolences to the accident affected victims and families.
Isom said at the news conference on Thursday morning, “We are breaking hearts for the family and loved ones of passengers and crew members, and also for those who were on military aircraft.”
The airline sent personnel to the airport to assist the family members of the victims, Isom said.
The US planned to set up a communication center inside a DCA Admiral Club, the airport officials confirmed the night.
Industry reacts
In a statement, the country’s largest pilot union issued a statement late on Wednesday stating that it was “shocked and unhappy with the tragic accident in DCA.”
The Air Line Pilot Association said, “Our views are with the people affected by this tragedy and the ALPA accident investigation team is responding to the National Transport Safety Board to assist the National Transport Safety Board.”
The Captain had about six years of experience with the PSA on the American Eagle Jet, shared by Isom on Thursday morning. In the flight deck, the first officer had about two years of experience.
How the accident is affecting flight operations
The FAA stopped all inbounds and departure flights at DCA soon after Wednesday night accident.
The nineteen aircraft that were in the vicinity of the airport were converted into a nearby Duals International Airport (IAD), according to DCA’s governing body, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority CEO Jack Potter.
Late Thursday night, DCA re -opened to commercial air traffic, but with important operating disruption.
According to the flightware, in early Thursday, about 61% of departure were canceled in DCA. Several major American airlines issued a trip exemption, allowing passengers to make changes without any cost for the next day or two or two in two or two flights.
Some of those travel advisors can be found below:
The accident did not disrupt operations at other major airports in the region, Potter said – which includes dual and Baltimore/Washington International Thugud Marshal Airport (BWI).
This is a developing story. Check back for further updates.
