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No wichita survivors in DC – The Lawrence Times

No wichita survivors in DC – The Lawrence Times

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Lot American Airlines 5342 left Eisenhower national airport around 17:30 on Wednesday. He had 64 people on board, including some in Wichita for the USA. Figure skating championship.

Officials said on Thursday morning that they did not think that on Wednesday evening there were saved after a collision between a passenger flight from Wichita and a helicopter near the reagan national airport in Washington.

Sixty -four people were on board the American Airlines flight from Wichita, and three were in a military helicopter. The disaster took place on the Potomac River, and each of the two aircraft landed in the water.

“We are now at the point where we are undergoing a rescue operation for recovery surgery,” said John Donnelly, head of the fire brigade in the capital of the country. “We don’t believe they are saved.”

This is the most deadly air disaster in the US for almost 24 years.

Among the 60 jet passengers were skaters of figures, their coaches and family members, who returned from the development camp, which took place after the National Figure Skateing Championships in Wichita last week, in a statement with the figurine’s statement.

The organization confirmed that “several members of the skating community” were on flights. He didn’t give any more details.

“We are devastated by this inefficient tragedy and we keep the families of victims strictly in our hearts,” the organization said. “We will continue to monitor the situation and publish more information when it is available.”

Officials in Russia said that two passengers were gold medalists Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov. They won the title of couples at the World Championships in 1994 in Chiba, Japan. The Boston skating club mentions them as trainers. Their son, Maxim Naumov, is a competitive figure skater for the USA

The first respondents regained the bodies of 27 passengers. The body of the plane was found upside down in three episodes in the water of the deep waist. A helicopter wreck was also found.

Over 300 respondents from many state and federal agencies began rescue operations shortly after the disaster at 20:00 CST on Wednesday. Strong winds and cold weather made the situation difficult.

“It’s really difficult when you lose, probably over 60 cansans at the same time,” said US senator Roger Marshall from Kansas during a press conference early in the morning. “And I don’t want to forget about pilots and flight attendants who do their work and we lost military staff. All this life is so valuable. “

Senator Jerry Moran, who is chaired by the Senate of Aviation Social Institute, also spoke on information information.

“I know this flight, I flew it myself,” said Moran. “I lobbyed American Airlines to start a direct air service to DCA. This flight exists for about a year and it is certainly true that in Kansas – in particular in Wichita – we will meet people who are in this flight, know family members, know someone. “

At a press conference, late in the evening in Wichita, an airport clerk said that family members and friends of 64 people on the plane began to come to the Eisenhower national airport.

“As a council, we really want to ask every Wichita Kansan and the American for prayer for all those involved in this incident, whether involved in the incident in DC or those who help in saving,” said mayor Lily Wu while briefing news at the Wichita airport.

The airport has Family Support Team Available in the terminal for relatives looking for information. The group is to be available on site in the case of air accidents for family members and friends of the victims.

“The family support team is managed by our police and the fire brigade at the airport, so these officers have already coordinated help,” said Jesse Romo, director of the city airports.

The city directs families looking for more information about the disaster to call American Airlines directly at 800-679-8215.

President Donald Trump and vice president JD Vance were informed about the air disaster. In a statement, Trump said he was monitored.

“God bless their souls. Thank you for the incredible work done by our first respondents – he said in a statement.

In a later post, Truth Social Trump questioned the tactics of military helicopter and air traffic controllers – both agencies that report to him as a president.

Writing that “the plane was in an excellent and routine approach line for a long time” in “clear night”, Trump asked: “Why did the helicopter not fall or turned away” and “why did he not do it in the control tower of the helicopter, what to do instead of asking if they saw the plane. “

“What a terrible night. Let them bless you all! “He added in the next position.

The National Airport Reagan closed after the disaster, but it is expected to be re -opened late Thursday in the morning.

Governor Kansas Laura Kelly said in a statement on Thursday morning that the flags would be reduced in the state “to recognize this destructive event and a tragic loss of life.”

Information about failure

American Flight 5342 left Wichita around 17:30 on Wednesday and was to land at the reagan national airport around 8:30 CST. The plane collided with the helicopter during the approach to the runway, the federal aviation administration said in a statement about X.

He identified the plane as a regional Bombardier CRJ-700 aircraft. Faa said that the helicopter is Army Sikorsky H-60 ​​Black Hawk, a military aircraft.

Defense officials said that the helicopter from Fort Belvoir from Virginia was on flights.

The CEO of American Airlines, Robert ISOM, said in a statement that the company is mobilizing the “GO team” to participate in an investigation in Washington. ISOM said he would join the team.

“We fully work with the National Transport Safety Board in the investigation and we will continue to provide all the information we can,” said ISOM. “Our cooperation is constantly.”

Video From an observation camera In nearby Kennedy Center shows two sets of lights in line with aircraft that seem to join the fireball.

AP reports that the flight was coming at an altitude of about 400 feet, when it suffered a rapid loss of height over the Potomac River.

A few minutes before landing, the air traffic controllers asked the flight to land on a short runway and adapted the approach to it.

Less than 30 seconds before the disaster, the air traffic controller asked the helicopter if you can see the plane. The controller performed another radio call to the helicopter a moment later: “Pat 25 pass for CRJ”. After a few seconds, two planes collided.

The radio transponder the plane ceased to pass about 2400 feet on the catwalk, about the middle of the river.

“Tower, did you see it?” Another pilot you hear how he calls a few seconds after an apparent collision.

The tower immediately began to redirect other aircraft from Reagan.

The airspace at the Washington National Reagan is complicated due to the difficult approach to the airport, as well as limiting flights above government buildings. It is also a particularly busy airspace, with the influx of police and military helicopters operating in the area.

Transport secretary Sean Duffy said that before the collision of the flight path of the aircraft and the helicopter “they were nothing unusual what was happening in the DC aerial space.”

“Everything was a standard of leading to a disaster. Of course, something that happened here happened – said Duffy.

Contribution: Associated Press, NPR

Additional reports Rose Conlon, Suzanne Perez, Hugo Phan and Tom Shine

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