First responders search cold Potomac River after midair collision between airplane, military helicopter
The Federal Aviation Administration released a statement that read, “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. Wednesday. PSA was operating as Flight 5342 for American Airlines. It departed from Wichita, Kansas. The FAA and NTSB will investigate. The NTSB will lead the investigation.
American Airlines jet, military helicopter collide mid-air sending both aircraft plunging into frigid Potomac River
A search and rescue operation has transitioned to a recovery effort after an American Airlines plane on approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) collided with a military helicopter, sending both aircraft plunging into the frigid waters of the Potomac River on Wednesday night.
WASHINGTON – A massive recovery operation is underway in Washington after a passenger plane and military helicopter collided midair, sending both aircraft plunging into the frigid waters of the Potomac River, which was estimated to be about 35 degrees.
At a news conference Thursday morning, officials said there are not believed to be any survivors, and officials are working to recover victims and wreckage from both aircraft.
The Federal Aviation Administration reported that American Airlines Flight 5342, operated by PSA Airlines, from Wichita, Kansas, collided with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter while on approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) Wednesday night.
The D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and other partner agencies conducted search and rescue efforts well into the evening and overnight hours in the cold waters of the Potomac River.
All aviation traffic into and out of Washington’s Reagan National Airport was halted as authorities swarmed the airport and nearby waterways after the collision, but the airport was reopened at 11 a.m. Thursday.
"There were 60 passengers and four crew members on board the aircraft … Our concern is for the passengers and crew on board the aircraft. We are in contact with authorities and assisting with emergency response efforts," American Airlines said in part of a statement.
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Unlike the days of January’s arctic blast that sent the mercury well below freezing and created ice along the river, the crash occurred when weather conditions were considered to be mild, with recent daytime temperatures that had reached the 60s. However, water temperatures were still chilly, estimated to be in the 30s and 40s, which caused concern over hypothermia.
The U.S. Coast Guard says (USCG) extended exposure to water that is even around 70 degrees can lead to exhaustion and unconsciousness.
The USCG says once a body’s temperature reaches 95 degrees, a person’s agility and self-rescue abilities become virtually non-existent, which is why people who fall into cold waters can die within minutes.
Once search and rescue operations conclude, the National Transportation Safety Board will be tasked with gathering data from witnesses and black boxes in an effort to determine what went wrong.
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As part of the investigation, federal authorities will examine the weather to determine if winds, visibility or other factors played a role in the tragedy.
A nearby weather observation site reported fair skies and visibility of around 10 miles at the time of Wednesday’s incident.
Several previous air disasters around the nation’s capital, outside of the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, involved weather in some fashion.
In 1947, Eastern Air Lines Flight 854 crashed during its approach to Washington National Airport due in part to poor weather conditions and pilot error.
And in 1982, 78 people were killed when Air Florida Flight 90 crashed shortly after takeoff from Washington National Airport in wintry conditions.