Reposted by Newsmata
The search and rescue operation for victims of the Washington DC plane crash could take multiple days, a fire chief has confirmed, as first responders navigate ‘dangerous’ waters
Search and rescue operations are likely to take several days
A huge underwater search and rescue operation after an American Airlines plane carrying 64 people collided with a US Army Black Hawk helicopter in Washington DC last night is likely to take multiple days.
American Airlines Flight 5342 departed from Wichita, Kansas, with 60 passengers and four crew members on board and collided with the military helicopter, carrying three soldiers, near Ronald Reagan National Airport at around 9pm. Both aircraft crashed into the Potomac River, where around 300 first responders are now desperately searching in freezing conditions.
DC’s Fire and EMS Chief John A. Donnelly Sr confirmed that search and rescue efforts are ongoing but that conditions in the water are “dangerous”. “The water is dark, it is murky, and that is a very tough condition for them to dive in,” he said
Donnelly said recovery efforts will likely take several days. “If you can imagine, the river is a large black spot at night with no lights on it, except for a few buoy lights,” he added. The fire chief expects and investigation into the crash will take longer.
The plane collided with a military helicopter near Ronald Reagan National Airport
Fatalities have been confirmed, with at least 18 bodies being pulled from the water. Rescuers have not yet pulled any survivors from the water.
The helicopter had been carrying out a training flight, officials say. In a post on Truth Social, Donald Trump questioned the tactics of the military helicopter and the air traffic controllers.
“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 the helicopter didn’t go up or down, or turn,” he wrote, adding: “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!!!”
Reagan Airport will be closed until at least 11am ET, according to airport officials. Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority CEO Jack Potter revealed loved ones of people on board had been waiting at the airport to pick them up when the crash happened.
“We did have folks who were at the airport who were there to pick up loved ones,” he said. American Airlines has set up a center in the airport for friends and families.
Courtesy: themirror.com