On Thursday morning, U.S. President Donald Trump declared that the midair collision between a U.S. Army helicopter and an American Airlines passenger plane was a “bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented.
According to CBS News, American Airlines Flight 5342, a regional jet headed to Washington, collided with a U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter as it was descending over the Potomac River.
The collision caused a devastating death toll, with at least 18 bodies recovered as of Thursday morning.
According to preliminary reports, the collision happened soon after air traffic controllers told the arriving jet to use Runway 33, which is shorter. Prior to the crash, the helicopter crew reported that they had made visual contact with the jet but were unable to keep their distance, which resulted in the fatal collision.
"Bad. According to Trump, the mid-air accident between a US Army helicopter and a passenger jet carrying 64 people should have been avoided.
Three soldiers, who are all thought to have been among the dead, were on board the Black Hawk when the U.S. Army acknowledged that it was carrying out a training mission. There were 60 passengers and four crew members on the passenger jet.
Air traffic recordings showed the tense moments leading up to the accident, with controllers repeatedly instructing the helicopter to maintain a safe distance from the jet, with audible reactions in the control tower as the collision unfolded.
Witness reports from nearby aircraft described flares and debris scattering across the river. The collision prompted an extensive search-and-rescue operation involving over 300 responders.
Inflatable boats searched the Potomac River while air traffic at Reagan National was suspended indefinitely. Trump responded to the tragic news on his Truth Social platform.
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