Sarah Rose (they/them) is a news writer and reporter for AIN. 
Prior to AIN, Sarah worked as a journalist for Georgia Public Broadcasting, Georgia&#039;s statewide NPR and PBS affiliate. They have also worked for several national nonprofits and as a legislative assistant in U.S. Congress. As an openly nonbinary reporter, they are a proud member of the Trans Journalists Association. 
Sarah is a 2012 graduate of Kennesaw State University.

News Writer

Sarah Rose

Bombardier manufactures a variety of business aircraft models, provides engineering, and aircraft maintenance services.

A PSA CRJ700 regional airliner, operating as American Airlines Flight 5342 inbound from Wichita, crashed Wednesday night on approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (KDCA) after colliding midair with a U.S. Army Sikorsky H-60 Black Hawk. The helicopter had three soldiers on board, while the Bombardier-built CRJ700 was carrying 64 people, including the flight crew.
During a press conference on Thursday morning, Washington, D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services chief John Donnelly said that rescuers do not expect to find any survivors.&nbsp;“We are now at a point where we’re switching from a rescue operation to a recovery operation,” he said.
KDCA remained closed on Thursday morning, but flights there are expected to resume at 11 a.m.&nbsp;Wednesday’s fatal accident marks the first crash involving a commercial U.S. airline since the <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2009-12-28/newsmakers-2009-colgan-air-crash-ignites-troubling">Colgan Air accident</a> in 2009.
An <a href="https://www.reddit.com/search/?q=%28washington+OR+national+airport%29+AND+%28plane+OR+helicopter%29&amp;source=trending&amp;cId=e98a3810-c5af-4ee5-a977-e8b21743ffbf&amp;iId=0276d403-1c00-4521-8464-2e4da12b2ebe">EarthCam video captured</a> the two aircraft colliding, followed by what appears to be a fireball. On Thursday, rescuers reported that debris from the aircraft had been scattered up to a mile away from the initial impact, with the search having been conducted in freezing weather conditions.
Newly confirmed Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy said Thursday morning that both aircraft were on a “standard flight pattern.” He maintained that there was no communication breakdown between the crews of the Black Hawk and the Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet, commenting that “the helicopter was aware that there was a plane in the area.”
“This was a clear night last night; the helicopter was in the standard pattern. If you live in the D.C. area, you will see helicopters up and down the river,” Duffy said during the news conference.
“Around 9 p.m. on Wednesday evening, emergency personnel at Reagan National Airport initiated their response to a crash between a passenger aircraft, identified by the FAA as American Eagle Flight 5342, and a Sikorsky helicopter,” said an airport official in an initial statement. “Mutual aid from neighboring agencies were called to assist, and takeoffs and landings at the airport were halted for the remainder of the evening. We will continue to post information as it becomes available.”&nbsp;
The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) said they were “shocked and saddened” by news of the crash. American Airlines CEO Robert Isom described the accident as “devastating,” confirming that 60 passengers and four crewmembers were on board the CRJ700.
“Our thoughts are with those affected by this tragedy and ALPA’s accident investigation team is responding to assist the National Transportation Safety Board in their investigation,” ALPA added in a statement.
A joint statement released by Transportation and Infrastructure Committee chairman Sam Graves (R-Missouri), Transportation and Infrastructure Committee ranking member Rick Larsen (D-Washington), Aviation Subcommittee chairman Troy E. Nehls (R-Texas), and Aviation Subcommittee ranking member Steve Cohen (D-Tennessee) said Congress was continuing to monitor the situation.
“We are in contact with the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board. As we await more information from the ongoing response, our thoughts are with the passengers, crew, and their families, and the first responders on the scene,” the statement said.
The U.S. figure skating team confirmed that several members of its organization were on board the AA flight, returning from the U.S. Figure Skating Championships held in Wichita.
“U.S. Figure Skating can confirm that several members of our skating community were sadly aboard American Airlines Flight 5342, which collided with a helicopter yesterday evening in Washington, D.C. These athletes, coaches, and family members were returning home from the National Development Camp held in conjunction with the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita,” a spokesperson for the organization <a href="https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/aircraft-down-on-potomac-river/3829201/">told an NBC affiliate</a>.

News about significant aircraft accidents and information from accident reports.

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