Washington, D.C
Multiple fatalities as aircraft collide over Washington DC and crash into river
Multiple people have been killed in a mid-air collision between an American Airlines passenger jet and an army helicopter in Washington DC.
The aircraft crashed over the Potomac River and there is now a massive search and rescue effort involving multiple agencies at the scene.
Local media is reporting several bodies have been pulled from the freezing water.
Senator Ted Cruz of Texas said on social media that “we know there are fatalities,” though he did not say how many.
American Airlines said 60 passengers and four crew were on board at the time of the crash.
An official from the US Army has confirmed three soldiers were on board the helicopter.
Webcams captured the moment with the vision appearing to show two small aircraft nearing each other before erupting into a ball of flames.
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the midair crash occurred about 9pm, local time, when Flight 5342, that had departed from Wichita, Kansas, collided with a military Black Hawk helicopter while on approach to a runway at to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
It occurred in some of the most tightly controlled and monitored airspace in the world, almost 5 kilometres south of the White House and the Capitol.
Investigators will try to piece together the moments before the collision, including contact with air traffic controllers as well as a loss of altitude by the passenger jet.
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A few minutes before landing, air traffic controllers asked the arriving commercial jet if it could land on the shorter Runway 33 at the airport, and the pilots said they were able.
Controllers then cleared the plane to land. Flight tracking sites showed the plane adjust its approach to the new runway.
Less than 30 seconds before the crash, an air traffic controller asks the helicopter if it has the arriving plane in sight.
The controller makes another radio call to the helicopter moments later: “PAT 25 pass behind the CRJ.” Seconds after that the two aircraft collide.
Rescue boats have been searching the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. (AP: Julio Cortez)
Police said multiple agencies were involved in a search and rescue operation in the Potomac River, which borders the airport.
The temperature in Washington DC on Wednesday night, local time, is expected to drop to a low of 2 degrees Celsius.
The airport said that all take-offs and landings had been halted as emergency personnel responded to an aircraft incident.
The National Transportation Safety Board said it was gathering more information on the incident.
There has not been a fatal US passenger airplane accident since February 2009, but a series of near-miss incidents in recent years have raised serious safety concerns.
American Airlines said it would provide more information as it became available to the company.
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Felony warning issued as arrests reported at Reflecting Pool
Federal officials are warning visitors that taking paint chips, debris or other materials from the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool could lead to felony charges as crews continue cleaning up a major algae bloom that has turned the landmark’s water bright green.
WASHINGTON – Federal officials are warning visitors that taking paint chips, debris or other materials from the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool could lead to felony charges as crews continue cleaning up a major algae bloom that has turned the landmark’s water bright green.
The warning comes after authorities reported multiple arrests Saturday involving people accused of removing material from the Reflecting Pool.
Algae, paint problems plague Reflecting Pool
What we know:
While officials have not released the exact number of arrests or identified those taken into custody, law enforcement agencies said anyone caught taking paint chips or debris from the site could face serious criminal penalties.
Visitors have reported seeing blue paint chips floating in the water as cleanup crews use mobile draining machines to remove algae and restore the pool. The unusual appearance of the Reflecting Pool has attracted large crowds to the National Mall in recent days, according to previous FOX 5 D.C. reporting.
President Donald Trump said on Truth Social that work on the Reflecting Pool would begin immediately and claimed several arrests had been made in connection with what he described as deliberate sabotage of the site.
Authorities have not publicly detailed the specific charges filed in the reported arrests. However, federal officials warned that removing government property from the Reflecting Pool could result in felony charges, and prosecutors could pursue more serious offenses if evidence shows anyone intentionally contaminated the water or caused additional damage.
READ MORE: Reflecting Pool looks ‘like vomit,’ visitors say; crews continue cleaning job
“If there are more serious products that are put into the Reflecting Pool to create more algae or a bigger problem, then we’ll consider more serious charges,” U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro told Fox News. “But make no mistake, making D.C. beautiful is a priority and if you damage, vandalize or do anything to impact something like the Reflecting Pool, you can be prosecuted.”
What’s next:
The Reflecting Pool remains under active cleanup as officials investigate the cause of the algae bloom, according to the president.
According to federal contract data, a more extensive renovation, including potentially draining the pool again, could cost more than $14 million.
The Source: Information from FOX 5 D.C. reporting, President Donald Trump, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro and other federal officials.
Washington, D.C
Jeanine Pirro vows DC Reflecting Pool vandals will be ‘prosecuted to the fullest extent’ | Fox News Video
U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C., Jeanine Pirro joins ‘The Sunday Briefing’ to discuss vandalism at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and the broader issue of crime in the nation’s capital.
: U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro joins Peter Doocy to discuss the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool vandalism after a $14 million renovation. Pirro addresses President Trump’s accusations against ABC reporter Jonathan Karl for tampering with the pool. She emphasizes Trump’s commitment to making D.C. safe and beautiful by prosecuting all violations of law, including minor crimes, to foster respect.
WASHINGTON (7News) — Two men were injured in a shooting Saturday night in Northwest Washington, according to the Metropolitan Police Department.
Third District officers responded around 10:08 p.m. to the 900 block of Florida Avenue NW after receiving reports of a shooting.
ALSO SEE | Man dies after early-morning shooting in DC’s Shaw neighborhood
When officers arrived, they found two men suffering from gunshot wounds, police said.
D.C. Fire and EMS personnel responded to the scene and took both victims to hospitals for treatment. Authorities said the injuries were considered non-life-threatening.
Investigators have not released a description of any suspects, and no arrests have been announced as of Sunday.
READ ALSO | Suspect in Shaw Metro fatal shooting of AU grad appears in D.C. Superior Court
Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the police at 202-727-9099 or submit anonymous tips by texting 50411.
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