The deadly midair collision involving an airplane and a military helicopter on Wednesday night appears to have been caught on camera. Footage shows a bright, fiery explosion as the two objects collide.
D.C. Fire and EMS Department Chief John Donnelly announced during a press conference that first responders were transitioning the operation from rescue to recovery, expressing their belief that there were no survivors of the crash. He indicated 27 bodies had been recovered from the airplane, and one from the helicopter.
The Federal Aviation Administration reported that a PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet and a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter collided while the jet was approaching Runway 33 at Reagan Washington National Airport at 9 p.m. local time. The investigation will be led by the NTSB, with support from the FAA.
President Donald Trump sounded off about the crash on Truth Social. In a statement shared following the incident, former President Trump criticized the circumstances, questioning why the helicopter did not alter its course despite the clearly lit surroundings and why the control tower did not provide guidance. He expressed frustration at the preventable nature of the tragedy.
“What a terrible night this has been. God bless you all!” he added in another post.
Fox News’ Melissa Summers and James Levison contributed to this report.
