Devastating Air Tragedy
Eighteen bodies have been recovered following a catastrophic collision between a regional airliner and a military helicopter near Reagan Washington National Airport, law enforcement officials told CBS News on Wednesday.
Breakdown of the Flight Details
FAA reports confirm the civilian aircraft was a Bombardier CRJ700, operated as Flight 5342 under American Airlines’ PSA Airlines branch. It departed from Wichita, Kansas, with a total of 64 passengers and four crew members.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Army confirmed that three personnel were on board their UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter at the time of the crash.
Rescue Teams Conduct Search Operations
Emergency response units, including rescue boats, were deployed to the Potomac River. Authorities have yet to disclose the full extent of casualties.