A devastating mid-air collision between an American Airlines passenger jet and a military helicopter near Reagan National Airport has left at least 18 dead, with more casualties feared as rescue operations continue in the Potomac River.

Heart-wrenching moments at the terminal

For Hamaad Raza, what should have been a routine airport pickup turned into a nightmare. Standing at Reagan National’s arrival terminal, he watched helplessly as emergency responders rushed toward the Potomac River, where the aircraft carrying his wife had just crashed.

“My wife texted me that she was landing in 20 minutes,” Raza told CBS News. “I am just praying somebody is pulling her out of the river right now.”

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The collision occurred in one of America’s most secure airspaces, merely three miles from the White House and U.S. Capitol. Flight data reveals that the Bombardier CRJ-701 regional jet was descending for landing at approximately 400 feet when it suddenly lost altitude over the Potomac.

Critical moments before impact

Just 30 seconds before the catastrophic collision, air traffic controllers had radioed the helicopter, confirming visual contact with the commercial jet. The controller then instructed the helicopter to maintain its position behind the passenger aircraft. Moments later, both aircraft collided, creating what witnesses described as a massive fireball over the river.

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Surveillance footage from the Kennedy Center captured the horrific moment when two sets of lights merged into one before disappearing from view. The plane’s transponder signal was lost approximately 2,400 feet short of the runway.

President Donald Trump addressed the nation following the incident, stating he had been “fully briefed on this terrible accident.” In his statement, he offered condolences to the victims’ families, adding, “May God Bless their souls.”

Emergency response in full force

Multiple rescue boats were immediately deployed into the Potomac, with first responders setting up light towers along the shoreline. Law enforcement helicopters continue to circle the crash site as the search for possible survivors continues through the night.

Reagan National Airport, a crucial gateway to the nation’s capital, has suspended all operations until 5 AM Friday. The facility, known for providing passengers with spectacular views of Washington’s monuments, hasn’t witnessed such a tragedy since the Air Florida disaster of 1982.

This incident marks the first fatal crash involving a U.S. commercial airliner since 2009, when a similar accident near Buffalo, New York, claimed 50 lives. The crash location’s proximity to national landmarks and government buildings adds another layer of significance to this unfolding tragedy.