No survivors are expected from the crash between a passenger plane and a military helicopter. The plane carried 64 people.
Previous reports indicated four individuals may have survived.
D.C. Fire and EMS Department chief John Donnelly told reporters, “At this point, we don’t believe there are any survivors from this accident, and we have recovered 27 people from the plane and one from the helicopter.”
U.S. figure skaters were on the plane, U.S. Figure Skating confirmed, saying that “several members of our skating community were sadly aboard American Airlines Flight 5342, which collided with a helicopter yesterday evening in Washington, D.C. We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts.”
Stephanie Myers of One America News shared a list of the crash victims on social media.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said there was “standard communication, so there was not a breakdown, if that’s your question, in communication between the military helicopter and the American Airlines flight. There was communication between the aircraft and the tower.”
Duffy noted the tragedy was preventable.
At least 28 bodies have been recovered from the crash.
Following the crash, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem said, “We are deploying every available US Coast Guard resource for search and rescue efforts in this horrific incident at DCA. We are actively monitoring the situation & stand ready to support local responders.”
“Praying for the victims and first responders,” she added.
President Donald Trump said of the crash late Wednesday evening, “The airplane was on a perfect and routine line of approach to the airport. The helicopter was going straight at the airplane for an extended period of time. It is a CLEAR NIGHT, the lights on the plane were blazing, why didn’t the helicopter go up or down, or turn. Why 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!!!”
He added, “I have been fully briefed on the terrible accident which just took place at Reagan National Airport. May God Bless their souls. Thank you for the incredible work being done by our first responders. I am monitoring the situation and will provide more details as they arise.”
This is a developing story.
