All takeoffs and landings from the airport near Washington were suspended, although there was no immediate information of casualties.
During Wednesday's landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport, which is close to Washington, a passenger jet and an Army chopper collided.All takeoffs and landings from the airport near Washington were suspended, although there was no immediate information of casualties.
The terrible moment was captured on audio from the air traffic control tower around the time of the accident, according to the Associated Press. Get the most recent information here.
An air traffic controller asked the helicopter, "PAT25, do you have the CRJ in sight?" less than 30 seconds prior to the crash to see if it had the approaching airliner in view.
Moments later, it calls PAT25 once more over radio: "PAT 25 pass behind the CRJ."
But there was no reply, and seconds later the two planes crashed into each other.
After the apparent collision, a second pilot can be heard calling, "Tower, did you see that?"
According to the AP, the air traffic controller then started rerouting other planes from Reagan National Airport right away.
Additionally, a terrifying video of the passenger jet and military helicopter crashing in midair has surfaced on social media.
A plane crash in Washington, DC
Around 9 p.m. EST, a regional plane that had taken off from Wichita, Kansas, collided with a military Blackhawk helicopter as it approached an airport runway, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
US President Donald Trump was briefed on the event, according to the White House.The number of casualties was not immediately known.
"We are 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," the airline stated in a statement posted on its website. As information becomes available, we will share it.
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