Key points
- Rescue operation has been switched to recovery operation
- US media reports “black boxes” have been recovered
- Trump blames Obama, Biden for poor safety standards
ISLAMABAD: United States authorities have expressed fear that there are likely no survivors following an American Airlines passenger jet carrying 64 people collided in midair with a military helicopter and crashed into the icy waters of Washington’s Potomac River.
“We are now at a point where we are switching from a rescue operation to a recovery operation,” Washington DC Fire Chief John Donnelly told a press conference at Reagan National Airport.
“At this point, we don’t believe there are any survivors,” Donnelly said, saying that 28 bodies had been recovered — including one from the helicopter, Western media reported.
“Black boxes” recovered
The flight data and cockpit voice recorders have been recovered from the passenger jet that crashed into Washington’s Potomac River after a deadly midair collision with a military helicopter, AFP cited US media reports.
CBS News and ABC News reported on Thursday that the recording devices commonly known as black boxes were recovered from the crashed plane operated by an American Airlines subsidiary and would be analysed by the National Transportation Safety Board, which is leading the investigation.
Trump’s reaction
AFP reported that US President Donald Trump on Thursday also confirmed there were no survivors after a military helicopter collided midair with a passenger plane carrying 64 people.
“I speak to you this morning in an hour of anguish for our nation,” Trump said at the White House after the crash in Washington.
“The work has now shifted to a recovery mission. Sadly, there are no survivors. This was a dark and excruciating night in our nation’s capital.”
Trump also blamed diversity policies under Barack Obama and Joe Biden for poor safety standards.
Sadly, there are no survivors. This was a dark and excruciating night in our nation’s capital.” – President Donald Trump
The collision — the first major crash in the United States since 2009 when 49 people were killed near Buffalo, New York — occurred late evening on Wednesday as the airliner came into land at Reagan National Airport after a routine flight from Wichita, Kansas, according to AFP.
Details about victims
Hundreds of rescuers were rapidly at the scene but found themselves battling darkness and floating ice through the night. Some of the debris was found a mile downriver.
Among those on the airliner were several US skaters and coaches, US Figure Skating said. Officials in Moscow also confirmed the presence of Russian couple Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, who won the 1994 world pairs title.
What happened?
According to officials 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.
On its website, American Airlines said in a statement: “We’re aware of reports that American Eagle flight 5342, operated by PSA, with service from Wichita, Kansas (ICT) to Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA) has been involved in an incident.” With input from AFP