In the US, at least 28 bodies have been recovered from the freezing-cold Potomac River in Washington DC following a mid-air collision between an American Airlines flight and a Black Hawk helicopter. The collision occurred as the passenger jet, carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, was approaching to land at Ronald Reagan National Airport. Three soldiers were in the helicopter.
Both aircraft fell into the Potomac River. Fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Chief John A. Donnelly said at this point, no one is believed to have survived after the crash. He said, they are switching from a rescue to a recovery operation. Passengers on the jet included a group of figure skaters, their coaches, and family members who were returning from a development camp held after the national US Figure Skating Championships in Wichita.
The Kremlin said, two renowned former Russian figure skaters Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were also on board the passenger plane. Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov said, other Russian nationals were aboard the crashed flight. The plane was carrying passengers from Wichita in the state of Kansas to the National Airport. US President Donald Trump in a social media post said, the accident should have been prevented and questioned why the authorities failed to inform the helicopter to divert its route. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the Pentagon and the Army have launched an immediate investigation into the crash.
