Tragedy Strikes as American Airlines Plane Collides with Army Helicopter near Reagan National Airport
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed the American public in the wake of a devastating collision between an American Airlines plane and an Army helicopter just outside Reagan National Airport. Hegseth revealed that the accident occurred during a routine proficiency training flight of the Black Hawk helicopter.
In a video statement obtained exclusively by Fox News, Hegseth stated, “We know the crew involved. They were experienced and were conducting a required annual night evaluation. We expect the investigation to swiftly determine whether the helicopter was in the correct position and altitude at the time of the incident.”
Hegseth expressed his condolences, saying, “This is a tragedy, a terrible loss of life for the 64 individuals aboard the civilian airliner and the three soldiers on the Black Hawk helicopter. Our thoughts and prayers go out to them, their families, and their communities as they are notified of this devastating news.”
The collision took place on Wednesday around 9:00 PM local time, leading to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issuing a ground stop at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The military helicopter, carrying three soldiers, collided with a civilian airplane carrying 60 passengers and four crew members.
During a press conference the next morning, DC Fire and EMS Chief John A. Donnelly shared that nearly 30 bodies had been recovered from the collision site so far. Unfortunately, authorities do not believe there are any survivors.
“We have retrieved 27 individuals from the plane and one from the helicopter,” Donnelly revealed. “Despite our best efforts, we have now transitioned from a rescue operation to a recovery operation.”
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser expressed gratitude to the first responders who worked tirelessly through the frigid night. What started as a search and rescue mission has now turned into a recovery mission.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who took office just hours before the collision, promised to seek answers on behalf of the victims’ families and the American people. Duffy noted that the accident occurred on a clear night and that both aircraft were following “standard” flight patterns.
“Safety is our priority. Every passenger expects to reach their destination safely when they board an aircraft,” Duffy emphasized. “That did not happen last night.” He believes that the evidence so far suggests that the collision could have been prevented.
In a candid post on Truth Social, former President Donald Trump described the crash as “a preventable tragedy.” Vice President JD Vance also urged the public to keep everyone involved in their thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
