Officials believe that there were no survivors after an American Airlines jet flying from Wichita, Kan., to Reagan National Airport collided with a Black Hawk military helicopter in the skies near Washington, D.C., on Wednesday night.
Here is how the crash unfolded:
6:18 p.m. Eastern: American Eagle Flight 5342, operated by PSA Airlines, departs from Wichita with 60 passengers and four crew members.
8:48 p.m.: About 15 minutes before the American flight is scheduled to land the Federal Aviation Administration issues an alert warning of an aircraft incident. This initiates a large regional response that include Washington’s police, fire and airport authorities.
8:58 p.m.: The first emergency units arrive at the scene to find aircraft wreckage in the Potomac River. They begin rescue operations immediately, according to John A. Donnelly, the city’s fire chief, speaking at a news conference later.
9:09 p.m.: Emergency authorities in Washington confirm on X that a small aircraft is down in the river near Reagan National Airport.
10 p.m.: American Airlines confirms that its American Eagle Flight 5342 was involved in an accident. Shortly afterward, the F.A.A. issues a statement saying that a CRJ700 jet collided with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter while approaching Reagan National Airport’s Runway 33.
12:06 a.m. Thursday: Pete Hegseth, the new defense secretary, says the Army and Defense Department are investigating the crash. Earlier, defense officials had said the Army helicopter was carrying three service members.
12:53 a.m.: Boats and divers are searching the area around the wreckage, Washington officials say at a news conference. They do not give an official count of casualties, but add that 300 responders are involved in search and rescue efforts. The cold water, wind and murky conditions are complicating search operations, they say.
7:30 a.m.: Local and federal officials hold a news conference at Reagan National Airport, where they say that they do not believe anyone has survived the crash. Efforts are switching from rescue to recovery, they say, adding that 28 bodies have been recovered to this point.
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