Segun Atanda/
A tragic midair collision occurred yesterday night near Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., when an American Airlines jet carrying 60 passengers and four crew members collided with a U.S. Army Blackhawk helicopter.
The incident, which took place around 9pm local time, has prompted a massive search-and-rescue operation in the frigid waters of the Potomac River.
The circumstances leading to the crash remain unclear.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the regional jet was approaching the airport after departing from Wichita, Kansas, when it collided with the Blackhawk helicopter, which was on a training mission.
Investigations are ongoing.
The total number of victims is still undetermined. The plane carried 64 people, while three soldiers were aboard the helicopter.
Officials at a press conference refrained from confirming fatalities but struck a somber tone. Dive teams continue their search for survivors.
All flights at Reagan Airport are suspended until at least 11am local time today.
Rescue teams, including divers and helicopters equipped with searchlights, are combing the crash site for bodies or survivors.
Emergency vehicles have lined the banks of the Potomac, and water temperatures remain dangerously close to freezing.
The Kremlin confirmed today that Russian figure skaters Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were on board the American Airlines flight.
Shishkova and Naumov, 1994 world champions and two-time Winter Olympians, were traveling with other Russian nationals. Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin’s spokesperson, expressed condolences to the victims’ families, noting, “Unfortunately, this sad information is being confirmed.”
Shishkova and Naumov were well-regarded as coaches in the figure skating community, with ties to the Skating Club of Boston. Their son, Maxim Naumov, is a U.S. competitive skater.
The global figure skating community has been deeply shaken by the tragedy.
The International Skating Union (ISU) described the incident as a devastating blow, stating, “Figure skating is more than a sport — it’s a close-knit family — and we stand together.”
U.S. Figure Skating revealed that several members of the skating community, including skaters, coaches, and family members, were aboard the flight returning from a development camp after the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita.
“We are heartbroken and devastated by this unspeakable tragedy,” U.S. Figure Skating said. “Our thoughts are with the victims’ families, and we will release additional information as it becomes available.”
Images from the crash site depict boats surrounding the wreckage, including a partially submerged wing and a mangled fuselage. Helicopters with searchlights hover overhead, illuminating the dark, icy waters.
Rescuers face challenging conditions, with temperatures near freezing and strong river currents.
Federal authorities are working to piece together the events leading to this catastrophic collision. With both civilian and military aircraft involved, investigators from the FAA, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and Army aviation units are collaborating to determine the cause.
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