Plane and helicopter collide in Washington, search for victims underway: Trump says collision should have been prevented

(Patria) - An American Airlines regional passenger plane collided in the air with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport in Washington last night, according to officials. The passenger plane crashed into the Potomac River, media reported.

Senator Ted Cruz of Texas confirmed on social media that "there have been fatalities," but did not specify how many. CBS reported that at least 18 bodies have been found so far.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stated that a PSA Airlines regional plane collided in the air with a Black Hawk helicopter while approaching Reagan. A U.S. military official confirmed that one of their helicopters was involved in the accident.

PSA was operating flight 5342 for American Airlines, which had departed from Wichita, Kansas. American Airlines announced that there were 60 passengers and four crew members on board, and the plane can carry up to 65 passengers. The U.S. military announced that there were three soldiers on board the helicopter.

An extensive search and rescue operation is ongoing in the Potomac River. Emergency Services Chief John Donnelly warned that conditions are "extremely difficult" due to low light and freezing temperatures.

U.S. President Donald Trump expressed his conviction that the collision between the U.S. Army helicopter and the American Airlines passenger plane could and should have been prevented.

"The plane was on a perfect and routine approach line to the airport. The helicopter was heading straight for the plane for a long time. It is a clear night, the plane's lights were on, why didn't the helicopter go up or down, or turn? Why didn't the control tower tell the helicopter what to do instead of asking if they saw the plane? This is a bad situation that, it seems, should have been prevented. NOT GOOD!!!" Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social.

"What a terrible night this was. God bless you all!" Trump said in another post.