Authorities have stated that they do not expect to find any survivors after a military helicopter and a civilian airplane collided overnight near Reagan National Airport, outside of Washington, DC, causing the plane to fall into the Potomac River.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that all 67 passengers and crew on both aircraft are presumed dead after crashing into the frigid river waters, which were barely above freezing.
Duffy agreed with the assessment of US President Donald Trump that the accident could and should have been prevented, stating, “To back up what the president said, from what I’ve seen so far, do I think this was preventable? Absolutely.”
He stated that there was no breakdown of communication saying, “It was, I would say, standard communication, so there was not a breakdown, if that’s your question, in communication between the military helicopter and the American airline flight. There was communication between the aircraft and the tower."
Duffy added that it was a clear night and it is not unusual for military aircraft to be in the area. Both craft were engaged in a standard flight pattern and the crew of the helicopter was aware of the presence of the civilian plane.
President Trump said in an address on the tragedy that during such times, “differences between Americans fade to nothing compared to the bonds of affection and loyalty that unite us all as Americans and even as nations.”
“This is really shaking a lot of people, including people very sadly, from other nations, who are on the flight for the family members back in Wichita, Kansas, here in Washington, DC, and throughout the United States and in Russia, we have a Russia contingent, some very talented people. Unfortunately, we’re on that plane,” Trump said.
“We are one family, and today we are all heartbroken. We’re all searching for answers that icy, icy Potomac, or is it cold, cold night, cold water. We’re all overcome with the grief for many who have so tragically perished will no longer be with us together. We take solace in the knowledge that their journey ended not in the cold waters of the Potomac, but in the warm embrace of a loving God," the President added, pledging that the administration would offer support to the families of the victims.