An American Airlines flight crashed into a helicopter as it approached Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington DC, officials said, bringing it down into the Potomac River, where search and rescue boats were deployed to the area.
The Federal Aviation Administration said the Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet - which can carry up to 78 passengers - collided with the helicopter as it approached the runway at around 21:00 EST (02:00 GMT) on Wednesday.
According to the officials, the aircraft was American Airlines Flight 5342 coming from Wichita, Kansas.
READ MORE: What was the worst plane crash in the US?
Emergency responders responded to the crash, which grounded takeoffs and landings at the airport, according to a post by the airport on X.
The Federal Aviation Administration said it was conducting an investigation into the crash.
The Metropolitan Police Department said a search and rescue operation was underway in the Potomac River with the help of multiple agencies.
Local police said that the helicopter involved in the crash did not belong to the police department.
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One of the worst crashes of an airline in Washington, D.C. was on January 13th in 1982 when Air Florida Flight 90 crashed into the 14th Street Bridge just a few minutes after departing from Washington National Airport now known as Reagan National Airport. The aircraft was a Boeing 737 model with ice forming on wings and this proved to be extremely handicapping to its ability to create lift.
The plane could not gain enough altitude even just seconds after liftoff, clipped the bridge, took several vehicles with it, and plunged into the icy Potomac River. Sadly, 78 people lost their lives, including passengers, crew members, and motorists on the bridge. But amidst this tragedy, one of the most incredible acts of heroism was displayed when passersby and a rescue team braved the freezing waters to save survivors. One man, Arland D. Williams Jr., kept passing the rescue rope to others until he succumbed to the cold, making the ultimate sacrifice. Today, a bridge in D.C. is named in his honor to remember his selflessness. I actually have a personal connection to this story—well, sort of.
READ MORE: What happened inside American Airlines Flight 11?
A few years ago, I was stuck in D.C. during a snowstorm, and as I sat in a café near the Potomac, an older gentleman started talking to me about that tragic day in 1982. He told me that his father had been one of the rescuers who jumped into the freezing river to help. He spoke about how his dad never considered himself a hero—just someone who did what was right. It was as if hearing it first-hand made the whole event feel even more real. History can be quite far away until you meet someone who lived through it!
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