A commercial flight and a helicopter collided in midair on Wednesday night as the jet was about to land at Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C.
The flight ― operated by PSA Airlines for American Airlines ― was en route from Wichita, Kansas, and was scheduled to land in the capital city just before 9 p.m. local time. The plane, a CRJ-700, seats up to 65 passengers.
“A PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet collided in midair with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter while on approach to Runway 33 at Reagan Washington National Airport around 9 p.m. local time,” the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement. “PSA was operating Flight 5342 as American Airlines.”
The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate.
Officials confirmed a search and rescue operation was underway, adding there was no information on any casualties at this time.
Video on social media reportedly taken near the Potomac River appeared to show a large emergency response.
The airport confirmed all takeoffs and landings had been halted as emergency crews responded to “an aircraft incident on the airfield.”
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