Quotes
Around 9 p.m. on Wednesday evening, emergency personnel at Reagan National Airport initiated their response to a crash between a passenger aircraft, identified by the FAA as American Eagle flight 5342, and a Sikorsky helicopter. Mutual aid from neighboring agencies were called to assist, and takeoffs and landings at the airport were halted for the remainder of the evening."
On X, the Ronald Reagan National Airport posted
Here is the relevant audio from the DCA tower. Starts with controller asking the helicopter (PAT-25) if it has the CRJ in sight, and instructs it to pass behind the plane. Then you hear controllers responding to the collision in the background, then instructions to other planes."
He wroteI don't know if you caught earlier what happened, but there was a collision on the approach into 33. We're going to be shutting down operations for the indefinite future,
another controller remarked
It was probably out in the middle of the river,
the controller saidThese athletes, coaches, and family members were returning home from the National Development Camp held in conjunction with the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas,
U.S. Figure Skating said in a statement
All are welcome to join in prayer and support for our community,
it said in a Facebook postWe are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts,
it saidThank you for the incredible work being done by our first responders. I am monitoring the situation and will provide more details as they arise,
he said in a statement
We don't know if there are survivors, but we are working on it."
The Federal
Then we're going to find out what happened,
Moran said
I'm just praying that someone is pulling her out of the river right now as we speak. I’m just praying to God."
A passenger's husband on the flight told WUSAPAT25, do you have a CRJ in sight? PAT25, pass behind the CRJ,
an air traffic controller says at 8.47pm, according to a recording on liveatc.net
We're cooperating with the National Transportation Safety Board in its investigation and will continue to provide all the information we can,
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom said in a video statement
I haven't heard much. I got off work, and I came straight here to be with my friends."
Pat saidWhy didn't the control tower tell the helicopter what to do instead of asking if they saw the plane. This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented. NOT GOOD!!!,
the US president said
Certainly I speak for the people of Washington, 700,000 of us, who are extremely sorry for the families who are experiencing loss tonight,
Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser saidThe challenges are access. The water that we’re operating in is about 8 feet deep,
Washington Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly saidAnd because there’s not a lot of lights, you’re out there searching every square inch of space to see if you can find anybody,
he saidDivers are doing the same thing in the water. The water is dark, it is murky, and that is a very tough condition for them to dive in,
he saidWe can see how the first responders show exceptional dedication during the search-and-rescue operation. Our words of support go out to President Trump and the American people during this tragic time,
he said