Officials expressed condolences and asked for prayers late Wednesday after an American Airlines regional jet carrying about 60 passengers collided mid-air with a Blackhawk helicopter over the Potomac River on Wednesday night.
“Please say a prayer for everyone involved in the mid-air collision near Reagan airport this evening,” Vice President J.D. Vance wrote on Truth Social. “We're monitoring the situation, but for now let's hope for the best.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Donald Trump has been made aware of the situation and is following it, CNN reported, as are other D.C. officials. The crash happened near Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, causing it to shut down and prompting a massive response.
The plane departed out of Wichita, Kansas.
“I've seen the reports of a collision with a D.C. helicopter and an inbound flight from Wichita, KS.,” Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) said on X. “We are in contact with authorities working to get answers. We ask you to join us in prayer for every single passenger and their families.”
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"I landed at DCA this evening at 8:42pm, IAH—DCA, minutes before an in-flight collision over the airport," Rep. Eric Swalwell wrote on X. "My thoughts are with all involved and their families. Hoping first responders find survivors."
“My family and I are praying and closely following reports of a plane crash at Washington Reagan Airport of a commercial flight from Wichita, KS,” Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) wrote in a post to her X account. “We are praying for the families of all impacted by this terrible tragedy,”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) wrote in his own X post: "My heart goes out to everyone who was impacted by the horrific incident at DCA. I'm praying for everyone on board, for their families, and for our brave first responders as we monitor the situation.
Amal Mudallai, a Lebanese journalist and former diplomat, showed her followers on X photos of the Potomac River she said she took “a couple of hours before the collision.”
“The river is frozen, and my heart is breaking for these people on the two planes if they plunge in this icy water. This looks huge tragedy.”