by Paul Bois and Bob Price at Breitbart
An airplane has reportedly crashed at Ronald Reagan Airport in Washington, DC, grounding all takeoffs and landings.
Update: 8:20 a.m. ET: Fire Chief John Donnelly reports the mission is moving from a rescue phase to a recovery phase. He confirms there were no survivors from the Wednesday night crash.
BREAKING: No survivors in the DC plane crash – official
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) January 30, 2025
The chief said they had recovered 27 bodies from the airliner and one soldier from the helicopter.
#BREAKING from D.C. Fire & EMS chief John Donnelly: "Despite all those efforts we are now at a point where we are switching from a rescue operation to a recovery operation. At this point, we don't believe there are any survivors from this accident. We have recovered 27 people… pic.twitter.com/Xh9CpW5XXh
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) January 30, 2025
Update: 1:00 a.m. ET: PRESS CONFERENCE:
- Fire Department says 300 first responders are are carrying out a “highly complex operation.”
- This flight route from Kansas direct to Reagan National (DCA) has only been operating for about a year.
- Airport Authority says crews are providing support to families. American Airlines set up rooms for families and counselors. “We are in a rescue mode.”
- Both aircraft are in the water. Divers are working both aircraft.
- 64 people were on the American Airlines flight, and three crew members were on the helicopter.
- FAA and NTSB will be conducting the investigation.
- American Airlines number for family members is 1-800-679-8215.
- Sen. Roger Marshall said, “When one person dies it’s a tragedy, but when many, many, many people die it’s an unbearable sorrow.”
- No deaths were confirmed by officials during the press conference.
- Washington Fire Chief John Donnelly said the water is “dark and murky.
Update: 12:35 a.m. ET: The Firefighters union president described the conditions being face by first responders attempting to locate survivors in the near-freezing temperatures of the Potomac….