Source: Patriot Post | VIEW ORIGINAL POST ==>
Search and rescue efforts are ongoing after an Army Blackhawk helicopter crashed into an American Airlines passenger plane near Reagan National Airport in Washington, DC, last night. The plane was coming from Wichita, Kansas, and was just seconds from landing. The prospect of finding survivors is vanishingly small, as the debris field is in the frigid Potomac River.
There were 64 people on board American Airlines flight 5342 — a CRJ-700 series jet with 60 passengers and four crew members — and the Army says that three soldiers were on the UH-60 helicopter, which was apparently on a training flight from Fort Belvoir, located about 14 miles south of DC. Among the passengers were members of the U.S. figure skating team, including athletes, coaches, and family members. Russia says two members of its figure skating team were also on board.
Fox News’s Lucas Tomlinson, who lives nearby, reports that it’s not unusual to see Blackhawks flying in the area, as training flights are relatively routine. Yet there’s no explanation for why the Blackhawk didn’t see the airliner, which would have had its full complement of lights activated, including those on the landing gear. The airspace is, of course, restricted, as Pentagon staff routinely take off and land in helicopters in the area.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has briefed President Donald Trump, and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem issued the following statement:
We are deploying every available US Coast Guard resource for search and rescue efforts in this horrific incident at DCA. We are actively monitoring the situation and stand ready to support local responders. Praying for the victims and first responders.
We at The Patriot Post join the secretary in prayer.
