US President Donald Trump has reportedly confirmed that after the devastating midair collision between an American Eagle passenger jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport they were left with no survivors.Â
The passenger plane, carrying 60 people from Wichita, Kansas, and the helicopter with three crew members crashed into the Potomac River late last night.
Rescue efforts have now shifted to a recovery mission as authorities pull bodies from the icy waters.
Among the victims were American and Russian figure skaters, their coaches, and families, who had just attended a training camp.
Several members of local school communities and labor unions were also on board.
Key Developments:
Flight Recorders Not Yet Found: The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is still searching for the black boxes.
Air Traffic Staffing Concerns: A preliminary FAA report found that the DCA control tower was understaffed at the time of the crash.
Possible Communication Issues: Some officials question whether aircraft transponders were functioning properly, as the civilian and military planes may not have detected each other in time.
Figure Skating World Mourns: Olympic skater Nancy Kerrigan broke down in tears remembering the young skaters lost in the crash.
The NTSB has 50 investigators on the scene and is expected to release a preliminary report within 30 days.
