Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) resumed flight operations one day after an American Airlines regional jet collided with a military helicopter on its landing approach over the Potomac River.
The deadly crash involving a Bombardier CRJ700 and an Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter occurred shortly before 9 p.m. ET on Wednesday in a fiery collision that was caught on video.
American Eagle flight 5342 operated by PSA Airlines was carrying 60 passengers—including multiple members and coaches from the U.S. and Russia figure skating teams—and four crew members while the Army helicopter was carrying three people.
Officials are anticipating zero survivors as rescue workers have already retrieved dozens of bodies from the frigid Potomac.
The incident prompted authorities to halt all takeoffs and landings at DCA, forcing arriving flights to divert to nearby airports, including Virginia’s Dulles International Airport and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport in Maryland.
As of 11 a.m. ET, flight-tracking website FlightAware.com reports that more than half of Thursday’s scheduled flights (well over 500 flights) into and out of DCA have been canceled.
The tragic incident and subsequent DCA shutdown could create travel headaches for travelers all over the country so passengers are advised to check their flight status with their airline before arriving at the airport.
