Why it matters:
The incident of a plane crash in the United States comes just a few days after the inauguration ceremony of Donald Trump, the President of the United States.
So, Trump is facing his first crisis within the first hundred days of his presidency.
The big picture:
The plane was American Airlines Flight 5342, operated by PSA Airlines. A Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet had taken off from Wichita, Kansas, earlier on the day.
The plane was carrying 64 people, including both passengers and crew members.
The US Army Black Hawk helicopter that collided with a passenger aircraft had a crew of three and came out of Fort Belvoir, an Army post in Virginia.
Key points:
- Fatalities have been confirmed and rescuers have not yet pulled any survivors from the water, according to law enforcement sources.
- There are no confirmed casualties at this time, according to the Metropolitan Police Department.
- A massive emergency response is underway in DC’s Potomac River, where the passenger plane and helicopter collided.
- The National Weather Service has issued a warning about the dangers of plunging into the Potomac River. The water temperature is currently hovering around 35 degrees, despite the near-50-degree air temperature in Washington, DC.
What they are saying:
- Sarah Fishel, who lives in a condo close to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, said she heard loud sirens and began recording around 9:10 p.m. ET.
- US President Donald Trump said that he was “monitoring the situation and will provide more details as they arise.”
"May God Bless their souls. Thank you for the incredible work being done by our first responders," Trump’s statement read.
Edward Kelly, the general president of the International Association of Fire Fighters, said: "We are doing everything we can to bring survivors to safety. Our prayers are with everyone affected."
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